Will Ferrell's take on health care...

Will Ferrell's film, Land of the Lost, fell short of expectations earlier this year, but this satire on the health care reform makes up for it. Thanks Will Ferrell!

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Disappointed...

...but optimistic.

On the eve of the Prop. 8 hearings…

Above: Looking towards Twin Peaks and Sutro Tower—the view from Mr. Peacock's roof.

As the deafening whir of helicopters is heard overhead, marchers are gathering on this beautiful balmy evening in my San Francisco neighborhood to march in anticipation of tomorrows California Supreme Court’s ruling on Proposition 8. Mother Nature decided give a reprise to the stormy weather of the past few days, allowing the peaceful marchers to walk from The Castro to the Civic Center for a rally—without the hindrance of rain.

Mr. Peacock has been under the weather this past week, and will unfortunately not be marching this evening, but will be there in spirit and hope. I will keep my fingers crossed on the State Supreme Court’s decision on this issue of equality. Stay tuned…

Thank you Harvey Milk…

You may remember Mr. Peacock’s thoughts on the Gus Van Sant film, Milk, from back in November, but if you missed it, you can read it here. The film has brought a piece of American history, not many people were aware of before, to the mainstream consciousness.


Thank you Sean Penn for giving a gracious and moving acceptance speech at the 81st Academy Awards after winning Best Actor for your portrayal of Harvey Milk.


Mr. Peacock would also like to thank the young screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, for having the tenacity to pursue and successfully accomplish his dream of bringing Harvey Milk’s legacy to the big screen.

Thank you to all of the people who worked on Milk, and to Harvey Milk himself, for believing in liberty and justice for all! Bravo!

Passionate Struggle

If you’re planning to visit or already live in San Francisco, make sure you stop by the exhibit, Passionate Struggle-Dynamics of San Francisco’s GLBT History at 18th & Castro Street. The exhibit is presented by the GLBT Historical Society (Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans). This small satellite exhibit was created to coincide with the opening of the biopic film, Milk, about the slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk.

The exhibit is divided into 4 parts: People, Politics, Places and Pleasures. It takes you from the bedrooms and back rooms to the bookstores and bars, from Harvey Milk’s victories to transgender sex workers’ riots, and from social movements to secret fantasies. Some sections of this small exhibit are fun, while other sections are very emotional. The GLBT Historical Society has kleenex available.

Mr. Peacock was taken aback seeing the actual suit, shirt, tie, belt and well-worn shoes that Harvey Milk was wearing when he was gunned down by Dan White—which is included in this exhibit. It is a powerful experience, and a bit startling seeing the suit with the frayed bullet holes and huge blood stains in such close proximity. Harvey Milk had such a large personality, but I didn't realize how small his actual stature was, until seeing the small size of his suit.

The exhibit is running through October 2009, so if you’re in the neighborhood see it, or if you’re planning a trip to San Francisco include a stop to Passionate Struggle on your itinerary! You can also download a free audio walking tour, Out of the Bars and Into the Streets, about Harvey Milk here. Click here for more information about Passionate Struggle.

A New Day Begins...

Laura Bush is a dish queen too...

Mr. Peacock is a certifiable dish queen, but has to question the motives of the $485,000 set of new china the Bushes recently purchased for the White House. Admittedly, it was paid for through a charitable foundation—but why now? Especially with our fragile economy, the wars, et all—it seems like a very poor decision. If the china was that "wore-out"...then the Bushes should have been more gracious, and let the Obama family select a new set of china. Nancy Reagan was severely criticized for purchasing china at an awkward time—but at least she had good taste.

Prop 8—The Musical

If you haven't seen this hysterical Prop. 8-The Musical, by Marc Shaiman (Hairspray)...or just want to watch again and giggle, here it is....(thanks Melissa!)

The cast (in order of appearance):
California Gays and The People That Love Them: Jordan Ballard, Margaret Cho, Barrett Foa, J.B. Ghuman, John Hill, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Rashad Naylor, Nicole Parker

Proposition 8'ers and The People That Follow Them: Prop 8 Leader- John C. Reilly Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife- Allison Janney Prop 8 Leader's #2 Wife- Kathy Najimy Riffing Prop 8'er-Jenifer Lewis A Preacher- Craig Robinson Scary Catholic School Girls From Hell-Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke

The Frightened Villagers: Katharine "Kooks" Leonard, Seth Morris, Denise "Esi!" Piane, Lucian Piane, Richard Read, Seth Redford, Quinton Strack, Tate Taylor

Jesus Christ: Jack Black

A Very Smart Fellow: Neil Patrick Harris

Give Them Hope—Harvey Milk

On days that my mom was feeling blue, she would pop in her trusty videotape that had these 3 films on it: The Way We Were, The Times of Harvey Milk and Sixteen Candles. She would have a long, good cry, and then laugh her self silly with “Long Duk Dong”…and let the blues pass her by. If you haven’t seen The Times of Harvey Milk, the Academy Award winning documentary by Rob Epstein, go rent it today—make sure you have a box of Kleenex nearby.


Then go see the new film, Milk, based on the life of Harvey Milk, who was assassinated thirty years ago on November 27, 1978. In a nutshell, Harvey Milk (the first Gay San Francisco Supervisor and first openly gay man elected to public office in California) and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were murdered by fellow Board of Supervisor, Dan White—out of jealousy and homophobia. Dan White was given a very lenient sentence due to his “twinkie defense” (eating too much junk food) and riots ensued in San Francisco from the injustice...

We walked to the Castro Theater Saturday afternoon to see the film Milk at the historic Castro Theater (my mom’s favorite theater)—and the last historic theater in San Francisco. The line snaked down Castro Street. The crowd was a bit overwhelming, but was all worth it the moment the golden pipe organ rose from the stage floor with the organist playing "San Francisco." We tried to spot friends and acquaintances who were extras in the film, but only recognized Peaches Christ in the protest scenes. Before the elections, the Castro Theater quietly hosted a star studded premier. Sean Penn brilliantly plays the lead role of Harvey Milk and is supported by a stellar cast. Emile Hirsch playing Cleve Jones (who later created the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt) is a standout. Director Gus Van Sant did a fantastic job creating Milk and filmed many scenes on location in San Francisco. Mr. Peacock enjoyed watching the live shooting on Castro Street earlier in the year.

The Castro Theater marquee was painted and repaired to bring it back to its glory of 1978 and storefronts on Castro Street were transformed to their 70's identities for the location filming of Milk. Bravo and thanks to Mr. Van Sant and the entire cast for fearlessly and brilliantly making a film about an American hero most Americans know nothing about.

Harvey Milk isn’t the only American hero who has been murdered. Each year Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender (LGBT) folks are killed just because of who they are. Some of their tragic stories, such as Matthew Shepard (who was brutally killed and hung from a fence post in Wyoming in 1998), make it into the mainstream media, while many others are never heard of, like Lawrence King (the 15 year old Oxnard, California boy who was shot and killed by a fellow student in front of tweny-four other students in his English class in February of this year)—all victims of hate crimes. There are 13 states that do not report LGBT hate crimes and 5 other states that report no hate crimes of any kind. The Gay American Heroes Foundation wants to create a traveling national memorial to honor and remember LGBT victims of hate crimes and to inspire compassion and greater appreciation and acceptance of diversity. To quote the Gay American Heroes Foundation, “All people who live honestly about their sexual orientation or gender identity are heroic, as it takes great strength and courage to face the daily struggles for personal freedom in the face of enormous opposition; to ultimately give their life for said freedom makes them—heroes." To find out more about this foundation or to make a contribution, click here.

This is the speech Harvey Milk recorded, in case he was assassinated. The video footage is the massive march that took place on the evening of his untimely death.

There are so many great movies out this holiday season, but make sure Milk is at the top of your list. As the San Francisco Chronicle said, “…with Milk, a great San Francisco story becomes a great American story.” Harvey Milk urged all gay and lesbians to come out of the closet, and make people understand that gays and lesbians are everywhere and just like everyone else. I hope the film, Milk, educates people not only about the American hero we lost thirty years ago, but also teaches people to appreciate and respect the diversity of other human beings—which was paramount to Harvey Milk. Go see Milk!

Thank you Keith Olbermann

...and thanks to my sister, Samantha, and Uncle Beefy, at The Bedlam of Beefy, for the heads up about this articulate, fearless and intelligent commentary from Keith Olbermann from msnbc! It's almost Friday!

Liberty and Justice for All

It was a bittersweet week for Mr. Peacock. I felt pure jubilation with the victory of our newly elected president, Barack Obama, however, I felt personally attacked by the passing of Proposition 8 in California. I cried both tears of joy and sadness. My partner and I are fortunate to live in a diverse and supportive city and neighborhood. I think everyone wants similar things in life: to have a job you like, to have a nice home and to have a loving spouse. Nobody wants to be alone and if you love someone, eventually it should lead to marriage. The passing of Proposition 8 and similar measures in other states, doesn’t allow that right to everyone. If you are a friend or family member of anyone who is gay or lesbian, please talk to as many people as you can about fairness and equality and engage those who might not know anyone gay or lesbian—many of these people are fearful and don't understand what marriage equality means. One of my favorite movies is Harold and Maude. In one scene Maude explains to Harold that you have to stand up for the important issues in life. Mr. Peacock will always stand up and march for equal rights and of course good taste. Thanks!