Busy day.  We stopped by the Mall to discover that I have a "proprietory" watch (Fossil) which translates into driving to Grove City to buy a watch band.  Not cool, Fossil.  Not cool.  I'm planning on wearing my pocketless culottes tomorrow so I can't even carry around my Blackberry as I galivant between offices.  Not cool, Fossil.  But I do love the watch.

Then we headed up to goose-killing country er, North Park for the Lambda/GLCC Family picnic.  It was really nice.  Tom Michalow (County Council candidate - District 1) stopped by.  I finally had my photo taken by OUT.  Buzz manned the grill most excellently AND made cupcakes for the party.  Someone caught a 3 inch fish.  All in all, a good way to spend a few hours on a lazy August Sunday.

Tonight, we took a walk around the block with Amadeus who was sooo good meeting new people.  He was rather indignant that I would not allow him to eat a chicken bone, but otherwise a good time was had by all.  He only "rested" one time. 

A few links of interest

Julia Childs was known as a homophobe who repented in late life.  h/t http://www.365gay.com

How far do you tolerate another person?s intolerance? When is it important to swear off an artist or a public figure and when is it just silly? And why will my brain let me enjoy some of them and not others?

Questions I ponder all of the time. People tell me I am too PC for anyone's good.  It irritates me quite a bit when people use the term Chinese Auction, but try being the girl that explains how the term is offensive.  People are very taken aback and think that I'm way over the top. 

The issue of homophobic support popped up in a conversation I had about gay friendly candidates accepting campaign donations from homophobes.  Not organizations, but general people.  You can see how quickly this could get out of hand?

We saw Julie & Julia on Friday.  It was entertaining.  Meryl Streep was her usual delightful self and owned the movie.  No mention of anything gay related.

From PageOneQ, comes a story about the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck.  I kid you not.

Pam's House Blend has an Open Thread on the quagmire that is the California marriage equality lawsuit.  Very complicated stuff.

Courtesy of Feministing, Will Arnett's dramatic reading from Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Just caught the fireworks courtesy of the new casino.  Very impressive. 

you know where I was going with this one, right?

It isn't a lack of queer news to report.  HB 300 is still alive and kicking in committee, but the lack of a budget puts that squarely on the back burner.  An inclusive-ENDA has been introduced in the House and Senate.  Doyle, Specter and Casey are all co-sponsors so Altmire is the rogue guy.  His "blue dog" status on health care reform is the bigger issue.

Locally, the County is asking for nomination for the Human Relations Commission.  My understanding is that complaints and investigations will be conducted by the County Personnel Department.  What's interesting is that the only thing they really need to investigate will be complaints, outside of the City, based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender discrimination as every other claim could be bumped to either the City or State Human Relations Commission which have paid staff investigators.  I'm impressed with how quickly things are moving ... I got wind of the progress from someone's FB status indicating that they had been asked to apply.  The ordinance was approved on July 1, 2009.

Meanwhile, the Mayor's LGBT Advisory Committee is still in its formative stages.  The conversation started in May 2008. The first meeting was December 2008.  Hmmm.

This week, NetRoots Nation (#NN09) comes to town and former President Bill Clinton will give the Thursday Keynote.  Wouldn't it be cool if he stopped by the LGBT Welcome Reception at the Warhol that evening?  I mean I know President Clinton doesn't just stop by anywhere obviously.  Still.  Cool.

The GLCC is moving next month.  Right now, they are focused on a $150,000 capital campaign to renovate their new space.  Look for more on that soon. OUTrageous Bingo begins on August 22.  Get your tickets early.

Ledcat and I are headed to the Lambda/GLCC Family picnic at North Park today.