Single gay male: What we really do

Have you seen the “What I really/actually do” meme that’s been spreading around on various social networks recently? Well, it’s inevitable that there would be a version created for the Single Gay Male. Take a look below.

Washington passes same-sex bill into law!

Right at the heels of the very good news in California, on February 13, the state of Washington has just signed into law a measure granting and recognizing same-sex marriage in the northwest Pacific state (that newly-colored dark blue spot in the upper-left corner of the map above). Assuming the new law hurdles an initiative and a referendum pushed by gay-marriage opponents against it later this year, Washington will join six other states in the U.S. (Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York) and Washington, D.C. in celebrating same-sex marriage when the law comes into effect on June 7 later this year.

Way to go Washington! And just in time for Valentine’s Day! But the road to equality is still long as seen by the number of red states shown in the map above where same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned. But I agree with what Sen. Ed Murray, a Democrat from Seattle has to say: “No matter what the future holds, nothing will take this moment in history away from us.”

Turning 4

Four years. Oh how time passes by.

It was four years ago today that I wrote the very first post in Discreet Manila. In it, I specified three world-changing milestones that affected the global gay community: the Stonewall Riots, the AIDS pandemic, and the Internet. Four years on, the issues related to these three things are still quite relevant: we are still fighting for LGBT rights, especially here in the Philippines, we are fighting the spread and stigma of HIV/AIDS, most especially here in the country, and we are forging new bonds and connections and learning a lot via the Internet, as you are now doing while reading this blog post.

It’s been a wonderful four years and I have found that writing articles here in Discreet Manila—though not as frequent as I would like to—has been a positive thing. I like sharing things, or giving my thoughts, or relating my personal experiences. And I hope that you, dear readers, find my little corner of the Web very helpful. Thank you especially to the numerous comments expressing your appreciation, such as the one below. These make writing worth my while.

I just came across your blog today, quite by accident. Read one article, and then another, and found that I couldn't stop - well, I could have, but chose not to, as I was in awe of how "decent" and, frankly, intelligently written your blog is. Ironic that - since I chanced upon your blog hoping to find links to hot videos. I am not into the gay scene and will prolly never be, but I do enjoy your posts about BED, bath houses, and whatnot, perhaps the empowerment they give me, albeit vicariously as I am admittedly too chicken to frequent such gay hangouts. Allow me to say you have achieved the precarious balance between mundane posts that cater to my *cough* carnal curiosities and relevant musings about life and the community of PLU (wow, I even had to google that acronym). I learned a lot from your blog reading from as far back as 2 years worth of postings in one sitting.

I, Sir, am an instant fan.—Unknown

Thank you everyone, and here’s looking forward to four more years of Discreet Manila!

The overturning of California’s Proposition 8 affirmed!

Over 3 years ago, voters in the U.S. State of California narrowly passed Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The amendment had added the following clause to their state’s constitution: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” I had expressed my dismay back then.

Proposition 8 was of course challenged, and after being upheld in May 2010 by the California Supreme Court, U.S. Federal Judge Vaughn R. Walker overturned it in August 2010. This was then appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The latest development happened on February 7, 2012, when the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the overturning of Prop 8. In a 2-1 decision, the judges of the Ninth Circuit said:

“Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”

“The People may not employ the initiative power to single out a disfavored group for unequal treatment and strip them, without a legitimate justification, of a right as important as the right to marry.”

What a great piece of news! And this comes after New York passed a same-sex bill last year. Unfortunately, a stay against full repeal of the amendment still continues pending appeals to either the full Ninth District Court or the U.S. Supreme Court and that means that California still cannot issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Nevertheless, the fact that U.S. federal judges struck down Prop 8 is still good news. And just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Tenga Egg

I came across this video commercial. I won’t say anything more except that it may be NSFW. Just watch.