Queer Landia » Mike Martinez

Got Milk?

Mike Martinez — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:23:59 +0000

Today is Harvey Milk Day. An official statewide day of remembrance for one of the most significant figures is GLBT history and the fight for gay rights. If you don’t already know, Harvey Milk was the first openly gay, publicly-elected official in the country and was out and proud when it was not at all fashionable. In fact, the idea that anyone would openly campaign for any public office as an in-your-face homosexual was not only revolutionary it was just plain dangerous. If you haven’t made any plans or are looking for something maybe to do in honor of Harvey, check out this page.

Harvey Milk was a pioneer who was every bit to they gay rights movement what MLK was for the civil rights movement. He was responsible for the shining light that is now the Castro in San Francisco. He espoused the belief and mantra that you had to be out of the closet if you were truly going make a difference in the world. He was a visionary leader who gave hope to thousands and who was, like MLK, cut down way before his time. There are many scholars who believe that Harvey Milk was only beginning his political career when he was gunned by fellow supervisor Dan White and had a real chance at becoming Mayor and maybe even Governor one day. I believe he could have done it.

I spent a lot of time studying the political discourse of Harvey Milk when I was in graduate school, in fact, it was the subject of my thesis. Harvey was a master at demonizing the radical right and rallying the disenfranchised who were all too often silenced by the majority: gays, blue-collar workers, and the elderly. He believed living in the shadows and in the closet empowered the forces of hate that kept gays down. His gospel of “coming out” helped start a cultural revolution in the City by the Bay that at the time was as homophobic of gays as the some places in the Midwest. Harvey Milk helped me to see, years after his death, that safety and security of the closet was nothing more than an illusion and that life doesn’t really begin until you muster up the courage to be open and honest about who you are with those around you.

I just couldn’t let today pass without posting a blog and taking some time to reflect on a man and a legacy that he left behind for others to follow. Harvey wasn’t perfect by any means but true pioneers rarely are. I remember often something that Harvey used to say over and over again:

The number one enemy of gay people every time, everywhere, is invisibility.

I made up my mind in 2001 that I would not be silent. I would not be afraid anymore. I would not be invisible and I have Harvey Milk to thank for that. Thank you Harvey for being so brave and so bold so the rest of us could try to follow in your foot steps.

The Eight Species of Lesbians

Mike Martinez — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:54:06 +0000

Reblogged from honeyimalesbian:

A Non-Scientific Study by Desperately Sneaking Susan

Androgilez: You think she’s a lesbian, but she’s so androgynous you aren’t sure, she just might like to downplay her femininity. She’s pretty but sensitive so you’re afraid to ask. They usually hang out with such a variety of people, you have a hard time pinpointing anything about her unless you actually got to know her.

The birthday diva.

Mike Martinez — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:03:16 +0000

Reblogged from adventures with cher:

Today CHER turns 66.

And I’ll say it again … she doesn’t look a day over the age she was when she first put on that purple Bob Mackie gown years ago. Yet she still refuses to tell me her secret to staying so svelte.

Then again, I’ve stopped asking.

Anyway, we started the celebrations with some cake. Let me be the first to tell you; C can out-eat anyone when it comes to cake.

The dirty dozen!

Mike Martinez — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:07:26 +0000

So we’ve gotten so much great feedback from our Top 10 list that we’ve expanded it to 12. From now on we’ll display the Top 12 Posts and Pages on the site over the last 24 hours in our widget area. We’ll also send out the list in our weekly email updates. This is a great way to show off some more of our great content and blogs and also highlight what all of you, our loyal and terrific readers, are clicking on to and reading. Thanks so much for logging on and supporting this great blog with every click!

Blatino Oasis 2012 in Palm Springs

Mike Martinez — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:55:12 +0000

Black. Latino. Get it? Lol. Click on the flyer to check out their website…

13 hotties circa Friday the 13th

Mike Martinez — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:51:57 +0000

So today is Friday the 13th and since I have it off I decided one of the things I wanted to do today is post an appropriate blog. I decided to start my search for ideas and angles by querying “gay Friday the 13th” on Bing and I found this great article featuring 13 hot guys from the storied Friday the 13th film franchise on Gay.net. Click below to see my perennial pick for first place of the lot and the link to the full article.

Granted, I’m probably partial to guys in speedos but this far and away the guy that caught my eye. I didn’t even know Kevin Bacon was in any of the Friday the 13th movies but here is living proof! You can click the photo to make the jump to the full, original article on Gay.net.

The Eight Species of Gaymen. A Non-Scientific Study by The Pink Agendist

Mike Martinez — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:12:54 +0000

Reblogged from The Pink Agendist:

In my many years out, I’ve been conducting entirely non-scientific (anti-scientific, even) research to identify and inform society of the many species of gaymen they may come into contact with during their lives. My findings conclude we are divided into eight different species:

Ingenugay

Ingenugay (pronounced engine-you-gay) has just come out of the closet wearing pink-tinted sunglasses and a tiara made of daisies.

Who is Larry Peck?

Mike Martinez — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:40:22 +0000

Larry Peck is the unflappable owner and operator of Tees With ‘Tude, one of our sponsors here at Queer Landia, and I had an opportunity to chat by phone with Mr. Peck about his website, gay issues, homophobia, Republicans, and much more. I don’t do interviews too much anymore but I made an exception this time around. Mr. Peck is a passionate and opinionated web entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to tell you what he thinks on any subject. He despises Republicans and that all by itself makes him my kind of people!

Click the link below to read more.

Larry is a 50-something native Philadelphian who moved to Atlanta in 1984. After a full career in telecommunications he decided he wanted to do his own and launched Your Name University. Later, Larry started designing and selling shirts on Tees With ‘Tude with same crass and unapologetic energy that fuels and colors his own passion and personality. I respect and admire people who are passionate and outspoken and although Larry isn’t gay, a staunch supporter of gay rights and equality he is. Tees With ‘Tude sports a nifty selection of GLBT shirts and financially supports Queer Landia as well.

When I asked Larry what he thought of the mess that had been the Republican primaries this election cycle he said, “I’d almost feel sorry for them if they weren’t such hateful assholes!” Gay or straight Larry doesn’t like bullies and he wishes Democrats “weren’t such pussies” some times. Larry has recently taken on Chik-fil-A because he wants to raise awareness about just how anti-gay and homophobic they are as a company. He doesn’t like their traditional support of NOM and other harmful groups and thinks people should know. Larry considers himself, pridefully I might add, a “shit-disturber” and at 220 pounds, bald, with an earring I don’t think anyone is going to bother him too much about it.

When it comes to business I asked Larry what advice he could give to aspiring web entrepreneurs and he had this to say, “Go with your gut, have a good plan, and be willing to accept the consequences if you have to piss anybody off.” Larry uses satire to sell shirts and a make a point and he’s ready to accept the fallout if he ever got any pushback for his personal and political stances. I had a great time chatting with Larry and we proudly support any straight-ally that supports our community and the cause of equality.

Guest House Films to release Blue Briefs

Mike Martinez — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:44:30 +0000

Following on the heels of its successful release of Black Briefs, leading gay film producer and distribution house Guest House Films will continue its series of gay-themed short film compilations DVDs with Blue Briefs. The new collection will focus on relationships and the pain that often accompanies true love. The 93-minute collection is scheduled for DVD release on June 26, with an SRP of$24.99.

Blue Briefs will include the following six short films:

Requited – Directed by Sal Bardo (20 minutes)
“How do you get over something you never had?” That’s the question facing Nicolas as he tries to decide if he should go to the wedding of his best friend from high school, with whom he’s always been quietly in love. Winner – Best First Time Filmmaker,Reel Affirmations: Washington DC’s International LGBT Film Festival; Official Selection – NewFest, Seattle International Film Festival

Boys Like You – Directed by Daniel Armando (12 minutes)
A young man struggles with the boundaries of friendship when he finds himself in an intimate situation with his roommate. Winner – Best Male Short, North Carolina Gay &Lesbian Film Festival; Official Selection – Spokane Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

We Once WereTide – Directed by Jason Bradbury (18 minutes)
On an island off the South Coast of England, Anthony and Kyle spend their last night together before Kyle moves away, leaving Anthony to look after his terminally ill mother. Winner– Best Screenplay, MiMi LGBT Film Festival, Barcelona; Official Selection –NewFest, BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Torino Film Festival

Revolution – Directed by Abdi Nazemian (16 minutes)
Jack, a 16-year-old Iranian boy growing up in 1989 Los Angeles, learns how to stage his own revolution within the confines of his traditional family. Official Selection– Outfest, ImageOut: Rochester LGBT Film and Video Festival, Frameline

The In-Between – Directed by Alain Hain (10 minutes)
Jared has found his first live-in boyfriend, but begins to suspect that the man he is in love with isn’t as faithful as he would hope. Has his paranoia got the better of him, or are his instincts dead on? From the director of the award-winning CuriousThing.Official Selection – Frameline, Outfest, NewFest

Frozen Roads – Directed by Mark Pariselli (17 minutes)
As a trio of friends comes of age in a rural, conservative Canadian town, they must confront escalating desires for one another that threaten to destroy their delicate bond.Official Selection – NewFest, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival, BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

“In selecting the theme for Blue Briefs, we responded to the high quality of work that took interesting and unique looks at relationships. These provocative films may not have happy endings, but their emotional impact cannot be denied,” said Rodney Johnson, co-founder of Guest House Films.

The dark-themed Black Briefs,the first in the Guest House Films series of short-film compilations, debuted at #1 on the TLAGay.com Gay DVD Bestseller chart. At the same time, critics responded to the collection’s ability to showcase gay short films. Gay Celluloid wrote, “That compilations of this nature offer new filmmakers a badly needed international platform on which to showcase their work, let alone safeguard many a title from vanishing into the cinematic void, cannot be stressed enough,” while Baltimore OUTLoud stated, “Guest House Films should be applauded for making these shorts available to the public.”

“With the success of Black Briefs and the outstanding selection of work on Blue Briefs, we see a wonderful opportunity to continue working with filmmakers to share their gay-themed short films with viewers, especially since these films usually cannot be seen outside of film festivals,” said Rob Williams, co-founder of Guest House Films.

As part of its expansion into distribution, Guest House Films is currently accepting submissions of gay-themed short films, documentaries and feature films for consideration. Films must be in English or have English subtitles. DVD submissions can be sent to Guest House Films, P.O. Box 26220, Los Angeles, CA 90026; queries or links to view submissions online can be sent tobriefs@guesthousefilms.com.

Consumers can order Blue Briefs at www.GuestHouseFilms.com/store DVD sellers. Retail sales inquiries for Blue Briefs and other Guest House Films DVDs and soundtrack CDs can be directed to sales@guesthousefilms.com.

About Guest House Films

Founded by Rob Williams and Rodney Johnson in 2005, Guest House Films LLC has quickly become one of the industry’smost prolific and acclaimed independent gay film production companies. It has produced five films to date, including Long-Term Relationship, Back Soon, 3-Day Weekend, Make the Yuletide Gay and Role/Play,and has numerous projects in development, including the new feature film The Men Next Door (www.indiegogo.com/themennextdoor). In 2012, it became the newest LGBT film distributor with the successful release of Black Briefs, kicking off its new short-film compilation series, and also has acquired the worldwide rights to the touching Australian documentary, The Doctor’sWife, which it will be releasing on DVD and VOD later this year.

For more information on Guest House Films and Blue Briefs, visit www.guesthousefilms.com or www.facebook.com/guesthousefilms,or follow Guest House Films on Twitter (@guesthousefilms).

Day 1

Mike Martinez — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:28:14 +0000

Reblogged from Boys like me:

Hi All.

My name is Pete and I have recently ‘come out’ at the ripe old age of 31. I have few gay friends and was struggling to find any kind of support network for those of us who aren’t ‘young’ and aren’t ‘old’. I decided that I had to try to form something myself so here it is.

I want to tell my story, in the hope that it may be of some use to others who are going through or have been through some of the things I have experienced.