Metrofusion

Today, as I sipped a cup of coffee to nurse away the consequences of enjoying a late night out at my favorite gay bar, I watched acts of civil disobedience and a fight for gay rights unfold in Belarus.

Belarus decriminalized homosexuality, but homophobia and inequality are still rampant. Blogger Joe Jervis posted news on Friday that a planned gay pride parade in Belarus would take place today despite a government ban. He followed up his post today with video and photos of the events. There’s a moment in the video that … well, just watch.

Belarus, a former constituent of the USSR, is a republic in name only according to the CIA Factbook. The CIA site notes, “Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion remain in place.”

That, children, is what a dictatorship looks like.

On the Net:

• Joe.My.God
• Advocate.com
• CIA Factbook
• Belarus: Official Website of the Republic of Belarus

A few days ago I saw this YouTube video (via JMG) from a duo named called Pomplamoose. They did a video song cover of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone.” VideoSong, according to their YouTube channel, is a new medium with two rules:
1. What you see is what you hear (no lip-syncing for instruments or voice).
2. If you hear it, at some point you see it (no hidden sounds).

The duo also perform individually and have some great sounds. Here are a few samples that you MUST check out.

Pomplamoose, Telephone

Jack Conte, Gulf

Nataly Dawn, Dying to Live

Lady Gaga channels a little Thelma & Louise in her latest video featuring Beyonce. Loves it.

Daniel Merriweather
Red
Love & War

Love these lyrics:

And I can’t do this by myself
All of these problems, there all in your head
And I can’t be somebody else
You took something perfect and painted it red

A bar on a Friday night.

A twink to his friend: Oh my God! My apartment number is six-thirty and my coat check thing is … six-thirty! How crazy!