Gay Mormon Man / PriesthoodMen: Tony's

Showing posts with label Tony's. Show all posts

Monday, June 8, 2015

Stereotypical gay theatre post

I have practiced my "I just won a Tony" face over and over, but I couldn't have done it better than Kelly O'Hara last night.

For that matter, I could not have done a better I just lost a Tony to Kelly O'Hara face than did Kristen Chenoweth. KC was delightful and sincere and pleased as all get out that Kelly had won, and it could have been either one of them that walked away with the award.

Yes, I am that guy. I am a gay Mormon man and I am really into theater. In my past life I was an actor and I loved every minute of it.

In fact, the executive secretary for my bishop called me for an appointment yesterday evening. I asked him if he realized that it was Tony night. There was silence. I explained to him that Tony night was like the Superbowl for gay people. He rescheduled the appointment for next week.

So, this is a rather stereotypical post from a sort of stereotypical man all about the big Tony night.

Fun Home won several important Tony's, including best new musical and best actor and score and book. The most moving performance of the night was given by it's young star in a song called Ring of Keys. What was it about? you ask. A young girl realizing that she is a different sort a gal as she articulates her attraction to a strong woman with lace up boots and a big key ring. Genuinely toughing.

There were thank you speeches that gave support to teachers, gay rights, being different, and recycling. Kelly actually danced off the stage in a fun and charming moment -- and it was her moment. This was the sixth time she has been nominated and her first win. Did I mention charming? And gracious.

I was troubles -- slightly -- that the show clips were more quick snippets, like movie clips instead of full numbers from the shows. Fun home was an exception, and it took us someplace that the others didn't.

On The 20th Century, for example, gave us scraps of three different scenes with brief new transitions. I would have rather seen "Babbette" with Kristen in all her Magdalene-ian glory as she chooses which script to run with.

And The king and I would have done better to show us the scene leading up to shall we dance. Instead, we got the best of, and little emotion or subtlety.

Hated Gigi, but then I have always hated Gigi. Not with a hate like I hate Cats, but a show about a girl being groomed to be a escort is not a good show for me, and the score is very mediocre. Vanessa Hudgins looked like she had just sucked on helium before the lights went up. At least American in Paris gave us enough real dance to make us want to hitch hike to NYC.

An unexpected real moment? Tony Yazbeck singing! In a show all about dance and love for the big apple, the producers let a sailor sing for half the number. What a lovely tribute to On the Towns leading man - integral to the musicals appeal.

The snippet from Finding Neverland was interesting, but didn't really sing for me, even with Matthew Morison doing the honor. The LED background scrim was more interesting than the melody, and the rigging seemed to upstage the Glee alum - not a good sign. Kelsey Grammer started it off right but the scene never took sail -- even with some cool looking sails.

The one minute Tommy Tune Tribute? Even a wonderfully bizarre hug could not make up for snippets of My One and Only, Grand Hotel and the Will Rodgers follies that were pathetically not enough.

The Musical number from Something rotten worked as an opener. It was literally called the Musical. It was good to see Brian D'Arcy not in a fat green rubber suit.

Shows I would love to see:

King and I,

On The 20th

Curious indecent

It's Only a Play

Fun Home

Hand to God

American in Paris

On the Town

You Can't Take It With You (closed)

The Visit (closing soon)

Something Rotten

It Shoulda' Been You

Skylight

Hamilton

INCLUDED VIDEO IS OF ALMOST REAL FROM BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY TWO YEARS AGO. YOU TELL ME SHE DOESN'T DESERVE A TONY ANY GIVEN YEAR.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Excommunication?

Kate Kelly is facing communication. She is the founder of Ordain Women, a Mormon women's group that has been supporting/promoting women receiving the priesthood.

Excommunication.

In a report made three hours ago in the New York Times, Kelly said she was "shocked, dismayed and devastated" when she received a letter from her bishop of her congregation this Sunday passed informing her that a disciplinary hearing had been set for June 22.

I ran upon the article quite by accident. I was reading about the Tony's from Sunday ceremony. How's that for gay. There I was trying to decide if Sutton should have worn violet instead of whatever color that was when this story pops out of newsland.

Sister Kelly is, as stated in her letter, accused of "apostasy, defined as repeated and public advocacy of positions that oppose church teachings".

John P. Dehlin received a letter from his bishop on Monday. As per the same article, Brother Dehlin has been given until June 18 to either resign or face excommunication. Brother Dehlin has recently made commented that he no longer believes some of the fundamental teachings of the LDS church.

Excommunication. The word gives me pause. Huge, great, vast and silent pause. Of course, If I had just kept my mouth shut about being gay back when I started this blog I wouldn't be as concerned as I am. And it is too late to back-peddle now -- even if I wanted to take that path.

So, what do I believe that would be grounds for one of my church leaders to question my own membership in the church?

That I am gay? People don't get excommunicated for being gay. They don't get disfellowshiped for being gay either. Before I was married I was disciplined in a church court, one that I chose not to attend. I asked my bishop to represent me honestly and I believe that he did -- but it was not for being gay.

I was disfellowshiped for having made covenants of chastity and then breaking them. And I understood the logic of the action -- though I was pained and embarrassed. I found my letter of reinstating in a box a year or so ago and I relived that time all over again.

Do I think that gays should be able to marry? Is it telling that I chose not to pursue a relationship with a man and, instead, married a woman. Is it telling that I am trying to keep my covenants? Probably not telling enough.

If I had a gun pointed at me I might have to say that I can't make that decision for anyone else. Regardless of my personal belief, I couldn't say that I believe I have the right to marry someone I love, but someone else does not have that right. Whether I think it is moral or not, whether I believe it will be a chink in the armor that protects families or not, I am not comfortable telling someone what choice he needs to make.

From what I understand about the pre-existence and the war in heaven, the same issue was put to a vote. According to established church doctrine -- and using my very presence on earth as back-up -- I chose the side that wanted to make choices and not tell people what to do and how to do it.

Of course it is easy for me to say that because I write under a pseudonym.

What would I write if I didn't?

I order to better understand one another, I think it would be wise to understand the terms used in these essays. What I propose is an Examination for Discovery, which is briefly a meeting of the opposing sides in a lawsuit where the plaintiff and defendant, with their attorneys, meet to examine each others claims and see whether they can find some area of agreement and thus save the time of the court later on. This is assuming that there is common ground, and I believe that even the most cynical of us would agree that there is.

It will be hard to understand one another if you think blue is periwinkle and I think blue is turquoise. I know that the differences may not be a big deal - between periwinkle and turquoise - but I think its best to be incredibly clear. We both may disagree on what blue is, but, for purposes of communication, we will use the terms as listed here - adding when needed.

Of coarse they may be subject to change and/or refinement with experience and further knowledge – and with feedback. Being that this is a blog and not a diatribe, I get to lead I suppose.

List of Common Terms On Which We May Agree
or Agree To Agree On For Sake of Discussion*

For sensitivity reasons we wanted to run this list past my Gramma Ruby, which would have been really helpful not to mention miraculous because she died at an Elizabeth Dole Rally in Boise)

Active: 1) A lifestyle characterized by frequent or various social, intellectual, and particularly physical activities; 2) In geology, a volcano which erupts regularly; 3) A member of the LDS Church who is often seen carrying brownies, scriptures or children back and forth to Church.

Affirmation: 1) A positive assertion. 2) An organization for LDS homosexuals and the people that love them, but not affiliated or supported by the LDS Church.

Sentence: Falling off of the stage was the affirmation she needed to confirm the universality of gravity.

Acronyms: SGA, SGB, SGI SGA: Same Gender (sexual) Attraction SGB: Same Gender (sexual) Behavior SGI: Same Gender (gay) Identity

OGA, OGB, OGI OGA: Opposite Gender (sexual) attraction OGB: Opposite Gender (sexual) behavior OGI: Opposite Gender (heterosexual) identity.

Sentence: The LDS SGA think OGA from ID, WO and MT dress like the NFL.

Beehive: 1) Home to bees, 2) A height-positive sixties hair style which many Mormon women continued to wear through the seventies and into late nineties and early 00’s with a slight revamp; 3) Young woman’s organization of girls who can’t drive yet.

Bisexual: 1) A sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical, mental or romantic attraction to both males and females.

Choice: 1) A decision between two or more option, and often referred to as free agency, personal rights and freedom.

Sentence: The choice for Juan Carlo was to either be eaten alive by the anaconda or jump from the boat into the mouth of the hungry crocodile.

Church: 1) An identifiable religious body under a common name; 2) a physical structure often equipped with a satellite dish, food warming area and an indoor basketball court.

Sentence: The ambulance and two squad cars were sent to the ball game at the Church between the elders and the priests due to last year’s “incident.”

Closet: 1) Upright storage space for clothing; 2) Slang reference to the status of an individual wishing to remain private about his/her sex life and who hasn’t acknowledged their SGA feelings yet to friends and family members.

Sentence: He had been in the closet so long he smelled like cedar and old shoes.

Coming Out: 1) The act of leaving a building or structure. 2) The process of telling people about one’s homosexuality is often referred to as coming out.

Sentence: “It’s just not coming out”, muttered Sister Macbeth as she compulsively applied spot remover.

Conversion therapy, or reparative therapy or reorientation therapy: 1) A type of sexual orientation change effort that attempts to change the sexual orientation of a person from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual. In the past techniques have included psychoanalytic group therapy involving aversive conditioning, electric shock or nausea-inducing drugs, and may have included sex therapy. Today there seems to be a more subtle and genteel approach which is being met with more success,

Down Low or DL : 1)This term means different things to different people, however generally it connotes dishonesty and hiding. 2) A term for men who discreetly have sex with other men while in marital relationships with women. Often these men do not consider themselves homosexual or bisexual, and their female partners are generally not aware of these infidelities.

Ex-Gay: Term for those who have experienced SGAttraction and who, for religious or other reasons, have chosen not to embrace a gay identity, or to engage in SGA behavior.

Family Group Sheets: 1) Forms used in annotating genealogy; 2) Money saving tactics for Mormon families at bedtime.

Sentence: Laverne and Lavelle grab your sister and a family group sheet and get you off to bed.

Families are Forever: 1) LDS catch phrase originating in the early eighties - referring to the belief that temple sealed families created on earth can move into the next life together. 2) The prevalent attitude after two weeks of dealing with the new in-laws.

Sentence: Did you hear our new sister-in-law-sing the Duran-Duran Medley? Are families really forever?

Folk Doctrine: 1) Doctrines that develop from prevailing rumor.

Sentence: Three stakes in Pocatello have been asked to spear-head a pilot program for the Churches new Work and Glory aerobics program.

Gay: 1) A happy and joyful method of celebrating holidays often sung about in English Carols and Fred Astaire films. 2) A common term for an individual attracted to their same gender. Gay has been a widely used synonym of "male homosexual." Its meaning is rapidly evolving to refer to both male and female homosexuals. Some people differentiate between homosexual and gay: homosexual is regarded as a sexual orientation; gay is a political identity -- i.e. an advocate for equal rights for persons of all sexual orientations

Sentence: Sister Fellows always regretted naming her eldest son after her favorite uncle, Gaylord.

Gender: 1) The set of characteristics that distinguish between female and male members of a species. It is often used interchangeably with the word "sex" denoting the condition of being male or female.

Sentence: “But, Julie,” Cal whined, “I simply don’t have an inoffensive sentence for the word gender.”

Genealogy: 1) An activity Mormons do happily while praying to hook up with a distant relative who has done all the work.

Sentence: Brother The-Hun was a bit disturbed when his grandma showed him his genealogy line went directly to some guy named Attila.

Heterosexual: 1) People whose emotional, sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for those of the opposite sex or having to do with opposite sex attraction.

Homophobia: 1) An irrational fear, prejudice or discrimination towards homosexuals. Homophobia can take many forms, from name-calling and teasing to serious crimes like assault and murder. Homophobia like other irrational fears is most often based on ignorance.

Homosexual: 1) People whose emotional, sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for those of the same sex or having to do with same sex attraction.

In: See out.

Last days: 1) A horrific time of floods, famines, political strife and food storage eating – much like yesterday.

Sentence: The last days of a back to school sale appear to be frequented by women on a weekend pass from the state hospital.

Lesbian: Term to describe sexual and romantic desire between females.

Lifestyle: The term lifestyle (as in gay lifestyle) has become a polarizing term though used by gay and lesbian people in the past. “Those in the lifestyle” usually means “those who identify as gay", though it may refer to behavior as well as identity - much as LDS lifestyle would mean those living the teachings or of the culture, or East Coast Lifestyle may refer to black turtle necks, bookstores and apartment living.

Many are called, but few are chosen: 1) What I keep telling myself when I am asked to be on the ward activities committee again.

Mixed Marriage: For our purposes here, a union between one of “heterosexual” orientation with one dealing with SGA.

Out: See in.

Prophet: 1) A man called of God who holds the keys to direct the Church and to speak for Jesus Christ. The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a chosen prophet, seer and revelator.

SSA: 1) Acronym for Same Sex Attraction. The LDS Church prefers SGA, (which I always thought stood for Star Gate Atlantis reruns) but actually means Same Gender Attraction. SSA and SGA are terms not highly favored among the gay community. Neither, for that matter, is the phrase “gay community”.

Sentence: ST-TNG and SGA are playing all week on SI-FI.

Sin: To behave in a manner that is contrary to the revealed commandments of God.

Transgendered: A designation of person whose identity does not conform to conventional notions of male or female gender roles.

Quotes, Quotation Marks: Tool used to set apart a word or phrase. For our purposes here, generally speaking, using quotation marks to denote words such as “gay” or “homosexual” is offensive. If you are not comfortable with using a term from the “so-called other side”, then it is recommended that a substitute which doesn't involve quote marks is found.

Sentence: I am offended that “he” just used quotations on the phrase other side.

Straight: 1) A direction which veers neither to the left or the right. 2) A slang term used in the place of heterosexual.

Sentence: The geography club, Straights of Magellan is not accepting new members.

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way: 1) Popular scripture quote used to encourage righteous living and weight loss.

Tithing: 1) One tenth of one’s income donated voluntarily to the LDS Church for upkeep and needed things.

Sentence: Ten percent of nothing is still nothing.

Urim and Thummim: 1) Tool used by Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon. 2) What I wish I had to understand my kids text messages.

Wickedness Never Was Happiness: 1) What Cal’s first missionary companion in the MTC from Macon Georga wrote on his left bicep with a sharpie when visas to Central America didn’t come through on time. 2) Comment made by those on their way to Church when a boat or motor-home pulls up in the next lane of traffic.

This is a blog for Mormon SSA* men who wish to follow the teachings of the LDS church while owning their Homosexuality. It can be done! This blog-spot is written by a sort-of smart gay man who is a card-carrying member of the LDS church and hopes to remain so. He will remain so by following the teachings of the prophets. His motto for today is "Many a true word spoken in jest," and he will try to not be so charming.

Mr. Thompson thinks he knows just about everything. Lately, it has been proposed that he may, in actuality, not. He is trying to be open to that thought.