Gay in the Bay | Vol. 2023, Issue 26

Queer Intro

Welcome to the Gay in the Bay Blog! I am Josie, a queer writer and videographer that loves to document what I see around me. This started out as a writing blog but has grown to include events that more people should know about.

This post is for the week of

Do you have a live event that needs filming? I’m a videographer! Please check out the Sweeney Media on your way to the About > Contact page. I look forward to working with you.

Looking toward the future

This week’s blog is going to be a little different. It’s looking toward the future! Which is actually funny considering this post lands in the exact middle of the year.

But let’s first look back at the focus (or possibly unfocus) of this blog. In its current form, there isn’t much form to the function. And some weeks, like the past couple after my road trip, have honestly been a blur! What do I mean by this?

For starters, this began as a way to encourage myself to stay on top of goings-on in San Francisco and the larger Bay Area. But I quickly realized that I have settled into several monthly or weekly events. Not great journalism, but to settle down is human (alongside erring, but let’s not guilt trip too much). How can a recent resident stay in in touch with the pulse of life in the metro area? Well, videos and photography are two ways to do this.

I’m not the best at conversations. I’m one of quite a few that have discovered they are undiagnosed autistic and ADHD, and even a laundry list of other possibilities. My brain just works differently than many others. So that presents another question: How do I create content that works as a kind of conversation? Videos and photography are two ways to do this.

I’ve been looking for a job since the beginning of the year. And only recently have I received rejection emails. Most haven’t given me the time of day to respond. And video and photography are two things that I am passionate about.

Now, I’m no marketer. But that doesn’t mean I’m not able to become one for myself. I’m better at the technical side of things. I love setting up the background for a film or photography set, and then taking the pictures. It’s a melding of creativity and ingenuity.

What the Hell Am I Getting At?

The biggest thing is this: I’m selling my photography, for starters.

But that’s not the only thing going on. For many of the pieces I sell, I will create a blog post that will recount the story surrounding the piece. Sometimes a photo comes about in the middle of adventure! If a picture is worth a thousand words, then whomever pays for my photography will purchase the full experience.

I’m preparing to start off 5 entries as the first of the series. A couple of them are in the gallery on my site!

I’m also starting a travel vlog for my YouTube channel. I’m labeling everything as Sweeney Lens from here on out, just to make the branding easier to achieve. From here on out, there may not be weekly posts. However, I will be making things much more interactive and sharable; wonderful for the Social Media Age that we all begrudgingly live in. Also, there are certain things that happen that should have a post of their very own. Like birthday gifts I’m sharing with friends (DnD character sheets based off of my friends’ personality); traveling to a particular place; breaking things up this way just makes more sense to include in a boring ole business model.

What To Expect Soon

There is an event going on this Saturday hosted by one of my incredible house mates. It’s a fundraiser for Burning Man. And I’ll be hanging my pictures in our Tea Lounge to entice potential buyers.

And this also feels like it will be a blog on how I conduct my business in the photography world. There’s so much I need to learn about the art of photography itself, marketing, and other aspects that I need to learn and want to share.

So, I hope to start some discussions soon. About art, about how-to’s, about photography!

Pop Culture

Each week I include media that I’ve enjoyed. If you’re a creator of any kind, please email me to be included in this list. I love discovering new artists; from singer-songwriters to upcoming directors, and beyond.

Gay in the Bay | Vol. 2023, Issue 14

Queer Intro

Welcome to the Gay in the Bay Blog! I am Josie, a queer writer and videographer that loves to document what I see around me. This started out as a writing blog but has grown to include events that more people should know about.

This post is for the week of April 2 - 8.

Do you have a live event that needs filming? I’m a videographer! Please check out the Sweeney Media on your way to the About > Contact page. I look forward to working with you.

Let’s stop writing and enjoy the flowers for a minute…

This week has been a hurricane of news reports, obituaries, and inability to really slow down. I’ve celebrated a friend’s birthday. I shaved my head for a photo project (more on that after I edit them). I’ve prepared for (cue horror music) for Tax Day. I’ve even decided to shelf my superhero book and focus on another book for the time being. But I’ve written a poem based off of a Cure song. It’s been a gloriously weird week. And I have a feeling that things are only going to speed up from here. That’s why I need to take more time to slow down and enjoy the scenery that surrounds me.

Speaking of scenery, I took a break from this here computer to head out and take some photos. They’re up on Instagram (@sweeneylens if you don’t already know), but you can also see them here. I don’t know anything about this building, except that it’s not in use. There was a crane on a tiny island, which I found endlessly fascinating. I’m starting to discover that I like taking pictures of bridges framed within trees and/or buildings.

Next week is going to be more business-focused. Have you ever thought about aspect ratios? Well, let’s talk shop. About LinkedIn Banners, about the various Instagram ratios, about it all! If you’re like me, you like to edit before you bring your photos onto the various platforms. And we’ll discuss why that matters.

News

Trans Rights Victories in Three States

I’m shortening descriptions this week, because we are in the weeds of details in news. But let’s start things off with a positive story, brought to you by Erin Reed.

Full disclosure, I have no affiliation with Erin Reed. We do not know each other. I have similar interests in what she covers and would like to give her voice more of an audience. Link in headline.

Tennessee is now Fascist

This past week three Democrats were forcefully removed from the State Legislature. Why? Their role in a protest in calling for more gun control. This happened in the wake of the unfortunate shooting in Nashville the week prior.

The Nashville shooting was not covered here, so there are no links to this site. This was not intentional; an oversight by Quality Control Editor Josie. In case you missed that, an individual walked into a grade school and open-fired upon students, teachers, and staff. It is a complicated and sensitive matter that has only fanned the flame of intolerance in the Tennessee Legislature.

Link to the Tennessee Three in the headline. I stand by the Tennessee Three.

LGBT Group Targeted

For once, Florida is not the only state with a strange occurrence from a resident. A Maryland man was charged for threats to the Human Rights Campaign. Allegedly there were references to the Nashville shooting on March 27, 2023. The voicemail was left on the 28th.

All of this is in the wake of the Nashville shooting of a christian school. The charge is interstate communications with a threat to injure, according to the article. Link in headline.

Rest in Power Heklina

Early last week we received news of a performance cut short. Last Monday Heklina, 55, was performing at London’s Soho Theater with their friend Peaches Christ. She is well-known for many things, more than I am familiar with. For full transparency I will allow The San Francisco Standard list out her full list of performances.

Link in headline.

Track Runner Keeps on Truckin’

A transgender youth is allowed to continue running in track-and-field. This was pushed through to the United States Supreme Court. For once, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trans Community. These issues often become complicated, but the article, linked in headline above, does a good job of covering it.

Montana House Bill 359

Montana is certainly Puritanical these days. This bill would be the second drag ban in the US. This would actually go further than the Tennessee drag ban bill. In short, this would ban anything that may have the “intent to incite lustful thoughts.” This has some interesting ramifications, such as theater productions to Halloween costumes.

Link in headline.

Montana… Again

This time we cover the Montana Senate Bill 458, dubbed the LGBTQ Erasure Act.

New Queer Dating App

Some new and positive news! Mary Richardson is a Penn State York student that has created a queer-friendly dating app for bisexuals. Full article linked above.

Color Coded Calendar

Lately I have not been able to attend or keep up with various events. But this and next week have several that I’ll be attending. And I will have updates on each of them.

Each week The New Parkway Theater in Oakland has a variety of events. The two that I love the most are Drinks & Dragons (Wednesdays) and Trivia (Thursdays) respectively. I am officially a new Game Master, and want to help make D&D more fun at the New Parkway. Check out The New Parkway website for further information on these and other events. You cannot go wrong no matter what day you show up.

Local Events

Beta Test Burlesque

Beta Test Burlesque has their next show coming up this Saturday. The theme? The sexiest of them all: Death and Taxes. The show is sold out, but if you’re late to the ticket game, there may be last minute I-can’t-go posts. Link in headline.

Pop Culture

Each week I include media that I’ve enjoyed. If you’re a creator of any kind, please email me to be included in this list. I love discovering new artists; from singer-songwriters to upcoming directors, and beyond.