A community in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, is under threat of being permanently wiped off the face of the earth due to the actions of a salt-mining company working in the area.
In August 2012, an old salt mine that was being used to provide local petrochemical companies with brine, began to collapse, slowly creating a sinkhole that has grown to cover 15 acres. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes, and most have resigned themselves to the fact that they will never return to their homes.
Not only is the giant sinkhole swallowing houses, but it is also emitting oil, natural gas, and other debris, which has left many fearing it may start to contaminate local waterways.
In retrospect, it seems like someone should have said something sooner.
Brandy was secretly slated to be the surprise grand finale at the Nelson Mandela Sports and Culture Day, but since fans had no idea the singer would be the final act at the end of a packed schedule, almost all of them had left the building by the time she stepped on stage. Oops.
To put it in perspective, the FNB stadium in Soweto, South Africa, holds 90,000 guests and had been packed the entire day. When Brandy came out for her big moment, however, only 40 people remained. Oh, and reportedly, the lights were on (which was probably one of the reasons guests thought this shindig was done).
“Brandy performed to an empty stadium. With the stadium lights on,” local musician Kabomo tweeted.
Other event-goers shared Kabomo’s shock. Twitter user Crazy Girl Tutu (how we love that name), shared, “I gave up the min I saw the empty stadium. Brandy performing for the chairs!”
Branden Lee is a blogger, screenwriter, producer, and actor, currently residing in Boston, MA. Follow Branden on Twitter and Tumblr.
I read an article on the Backlot about how there are still many gay men out there that are uncomfortable displaying public displays of affection (PDA) with their significant others.
No matter how out and proud a gay person may be, that doesn’t reflect one’s comfort level of displaying their love out in public. Some gay people are afraid of holding hands, kissing, making out in public because they may still feel the stigma of being gay and that their affection is best left behind closed doors. Sometimes it’s out of shame, but mostly it’s out of fear.
Although GLBT people are continuously making strides in ending being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, many horrible acts of violence are still being committed against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Just this year a gay man was gunned down in a gay friendly part of NYC in broad daylight just because he was dressed nonconforming to gender roles. I also read a story about a heterosexual couple being attacked in NYC simply because the husband kissed the couple’s gay friend goodbye.
Marriage equality and workplace discrimination laws don’t stop bigotry and stupidity. No law can prevent some crazy person from running up and attacking you on the street. A psycho with a gun could be anywhere at any moment, and sadly gay people must still live in fear of expressing themselves in fear that they could be gay bashed at any moment.
So that’s why many gay couples are too afraid to outwardly display their love in public. It’s sad, but understandable.
I’ve never had a boyfriend, so all of my instances with PDA have been with friends or dates, usually on the first date. I tend to enjoy treating a guy like they are my longtime boyfriend even on the first date. I figure that since it’s a rarity for me to have a second date, I might as well get out all the fun stuff on the first date. I love making guys uncomfortable on purpose, but I like walking out in public arm and arm or holding hands with a guy.
I also tend to get with guys that don’t identify as gay, so I’m always shocked when they don’t resist my PDA. I’ve walked down the streets of Boston holding hands and touching guys in public and can’t recall ever being harassed or looked at funny. Granted I’m the most flamboyant feminine gay I’ve ever known, so I don’t even notice people looking at me disapprovingly anymore.
Sometimes I’m a bit surprised I’ve never been gay bashed, since I am so unapologetically flamboyant. Thankfully it’s never happened to me, but that doesn’t mean it never will. I’ve received a lot of threatening looks, harassment on the street, and teasing, but luckily it’s never been a physical act of violence against me.I’ve heard so many stories of gay bashings, and though one would think the more flamboyant you are the more likely you’d be attacked, but it seems like that doesn’t even matter.
If someone hates gay people, they hate gay people. It doesn’t matter if you’re feminine or masculine, they hate you because you’re gay. They’ll try to harass, threaten, and eliminate you because of you’re sexuality, which sounds ridiculously stupid in this day and age, but prejudice will always exist. It’s annoying when gays try to turn on each other and blame the more feminine gays for causing straight people to hate gay people, and think that if feminine gays weren’t so flamboyant straights would accept them more, which is an absolutely stupid notion. Yet so many gays think that way.
I love seeing any gay couple displaying PDA. Whether they’re old, young, fat, fit, ugly, or attractive, it’s great to see gay couples not afraid to be affectionate to each other in public. It’s important to not only show other gays that it is possible to find love, but also that you shouldn’t ever live your life in fear. Gay bashings are unfortunate but not that common. It’s impossible to predict when something bad will happen, so there’s no point in living your life scared of the unknown. Some do end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, but not most.
I can’t wait to finally get a boyfriend and enjoy being able to publicly display my affection wherever I please. Though it is pretty disturbing when any couple, gay or straight, makes out on the street, but if I want to I have that right. No one can tell me where I can’t express my love!
Bradley Manning, the same Army PFC officer who leaked government secrets to Wikileaks and received a 35 years sentence on Wednesday, broke some more news today through his lawyer. Manning says that he is a woman and wants to be called Chelsea Manning from this point on.
“As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back,” Manning’s statement reads.
Chelsea Manning also thanked her supporters for their encouragements and donations.
Chelsea’s full statement.
Subject: The Next Stage of My Life
I want to thank everybody who has supported me over the last three years. Throughout this long ordeal, your letters of support and encouragement have helped keep me strong. I am forever indebted to those who wrote to me, made a donation to my defense fund, or came to watch a portion of the trial. I would especially like to thank Courage to Resist and the Bradley Manning Support Network for their tireless efforts in raising awareness for my case and providing for my legal representation.
As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back.
San Diego (CNN) — An agreement has been reached with San Diego Mayor Bob Filner after three days of mediation, the city attorney told reporters Wednesday.
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said details of the proposed deal would remain confidential until they are presented to the City Council in a private meeting Friday at 1 p.m. (4 p.m. ET).
Immediately after the meeting, a report may be out at a public council meeting, Goldsmith said.
“Any rumors you hear about the proposal you may deem to be untrue because the people standing here are the ones who know of it and we have all committed … that we will maintain the confidentiality of the mediation,” he said while flanked by individuals involved in the effort.
Asked about Filner’s response to the agreement, his attorney declined to comment.
Filner has been in mediation talks on the heels of undergoing intensive two-week behavioral therapy amid multiple allegations that paint him as a serial perpetrator of sexual harassment.
Navarrette: Will ‘Mayor Naughty’ please step down
So far, 18 women have come forward to say that Filner acted inappropriately, with accusations ranging from one woman’s claim that the mayor gave her “tush a pat,” to another woman’s assertion that he “put me in what I guess now is the famous headlock.”
The embattled mayor has steadfastly resisted efforts to force him out of office in recent weeks
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