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 23 - 29.

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.

Writing

Writing has been great in spite of getting a fake interview. I’ve written nearly 10k words in the past week or so. Which is great progress! Last week’s post about power in names was very apt, as I I was swindled out of time by a Multi Level Marketing scheme (what used to be called a pyramid scheme) called Maplewood Marketing. I have been in desperate search of a job for a while now, and they are preying on folks in this exact situation.

SPLLIT Band Live Show

To keep things more pleasant I’d like to switch focus and talk about seeing bands for a moment. There was a band that I met in Memphis, right before I moved out to Oakland, CA. They are currently on tour out West. I had the pleasure of watching them perform live at Thee Stork Club in Oakland. I got to catch up with them and even learned of some more Bay Area bands (below in Pop Culture) that are amazing.

I’ve never been much of a live show type of person. There’s something different about live events when you know the group, though. Please consider giving SPLLIT a listen, as well as the other bands I have linked down below.

Safe Spaces, a series

Last week I mentioned bar names and what power they have. I wanted to continue that discussion, as I am a proponent of names that unify and even signify a community. Because of my experiences, I focus on the LGBT Community bars and, in more recent times, cafes.

Bar names of yore are often cheeky or from an inside joke, among other reasons. They start out as snippets of phrases born from discussions between a few individuals. This grows into a need to create a safe space for others in similar situations. In decades past these safe spaces began as bars, as the focus was on adults. It has been difficult enough to create a gay bar, but even more so for women bars.

The term Safe Space feels like a buzzword started less than a decade ago. But it’s merely a modern form of word play meant for those that actually need to take a break from the attacks they deal with. Everybody needs to have a third home where everybody knows your name, and smiles when you show up simply because you are the shining beacon of light that you are. Families and homes can be treacherous just like school or work. You may be in the closet for reasons only known to you; and that means you need an outlet where you can find people with similar positive values.

I have begun collecting a list of women/lesbian bar names that have largely closed for one reason or another. I have plans on including these names in Project Madison Flame to put these now-missing bar names on a pedestal.

News

Round Robin News

While there has been plenty of shocking news, pearl-clutch-worthy, there will primarily be a shift toward music. Erin Reed has many reports going on, with the Texas Senate going through the toughest legislation. But let’s not forget that political attacks on Trans kids is very problematic. And we can’t forget the attacks on Montana Representative Zooey Zephyr — which, I have to confess my bias, she has a pretty badass name.

Sweet Dreams has a Heart Breaking Origin

We all have dreams. Many of them are on the forefront of the hit wonder Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics. Seershamusic on Instagram does a lovely job of covering the story behind Sweet Dreams. This song isn’t just an ultimate ear worm, it’s the culmination of heart break and music combining. Thankfully she has many more reels on Instagram, because I can’t get enough! Link in headline.

Chumbawamba were a buncha Punks!

Chumbawamba was pretty damn punk. They found a unique way to enact politically charged activism. Is there a documentary about bands like this? I would love to watch a documentary about activism through music. I love finding music history where money was raised for good causes. If you, like me, get knocked down, use music like this (or SPLLIT) to get back up again. Thank me later. Link in headline.

Fatnasmic’s Maleficent Catches Fire

Earth Day seemed to be put on halt this year. Maleficent’s dragon form in a show called Fantasmic had a malfunction that caused quite a stir when she caught on fire. The fire started at Disney Land in Anaheim, CA. Multiple videos will be linked here, as these points of view show a bit of what went on. Though to be clear, the cause has not been disclosed by Disney.

Here is the first video I came across. And the second, showing how bad the fire and smoke became as guests were shown the exit. The staff at Disney Land should get a raise for assuring the safety of park guests.

Another user posted this video to show how the show is meant to be viewed. But let’s take a moment to pay more attention to the mouth of the dragon. The pyrotechnic faces at a downward angle, similar to the anatomy of a snake. So it begs the question: how did this occur?

Let’s end this by showing comedian Youth Pastor Ryan and his news-breaking take on Mickey’s power. So which is scarier, Maleficent catching on fire or Mickey’s power?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrqyV8DAAH0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Instagram Reel by @ryankellycomedy

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.

Sam McPherson invites his neighbor on his tour.
SPLLIT (Baton Rouge, LA)
Public Interest Band (Oakland, CA) released their newest album earlier this month!
Fake Fruit is another Bay Area-based band that you need to check out!
Numb Little Bug, by Em Beihold

Queer Intro

This post is for the week of April 16 - 22.

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.

The Power of Naming

What’s in a name? Names have power. For many people in the LGBT community, there is power in finding a preferred name, a drag name, even a stage name. There is also something about going to a safe space with a catchy name. It can (and hopefully should) give people a sense of community. Wether it’s a cafe, bookstore, or bar, there should always be something in a name that gives someone the power to be themselves.

There are so many places that I describe in my first book, located in the fictional city called New London, CA. Here, there is a vast rap sheet of characters that all know each other in one way or another. It’s almost like this big city is like a small town. They visit many of the same places (examples listed above). Because this is a love letter to the LGBT Community in many ways, I decided to use bar names. So I’ve started collecting historical lesbian and women bar names.

News

First and foremost, I applied for a job and was asked to join the team! I’m also moving soon, so writing might be limited. Organizing and managing everything is going to be especially tricky. But I’m in the middle of a story in Project Madison Flame, so I think writing that will help keep the frustrating times at bay.

Montana Won’t Let a Representative Speak

Republican leader silences Representative Zooey Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to the legislature. Read more in Erin’s article; link in headline.

Broke Millennials

There’s a lot to be said about us Millennials and our financial stability (or instability). I often hate reading about anything that criticizes my own generation. The Atlantic generally produces novel-length articles that is blocked behind paywalls. But I was able to read the introduction this time. Email me if you’re able to afford to read the rest. Maybe I can after my first paycheck comes through.

Historical Rosie

Let’s stop looking at current events and look back at the past. Rosie the Riveter is one of the most interesting historical figures I’ve ever known, and I always like reading into Rosie. Link in headline.

German artist Boris Eldagsen

A German photographer declines an international award by Sony, and to make a point.

Disney v DeSantis

Disney has been duking it out against Florida’s totalitarianist governor Ron DeSantis for a little while now. Recently, Disney announced that they will have a Pride event in June. Around the same time, proud boy Ron has threatened (really jokingly stated, but it’s a terrible joke) to sell the land all around Disney so that another amusement park could be built or even a prison.

It’s incredibly tone-deaf to even joke about building a prison next to a public place for children of all ages. He’s one of those governors that claim they're protecting children, and here they are joking about putting them in danger. Very strange…

RIP Queer Film Theory

This week (for me) has been light on news. So I’ll bookend this post by giving a last bit of news. I had a podcast for quite some time. It was called Queer Film Theory and its main purpose was to watch movies from Black Lodge Video; a film library and event center in Memphis, TN.

After moving out to California, I did my best to keep up with it. But the numbers have consistently shown that nothing I did worked well enough. It’s not to say it hasn’t been fun. However, I am not a one-person show that is able to keep a consistent and enthusiastic demeanor while on the mic. And all attempts to have guests on (with one exception) has been thwarted by the evil “Different Industry Schedules.”

So as much fun as I had, I am shelving that project indefinitely. It had a good run (at least in my head), and I’m glad I started it. If you’re interested at all, you can check it out on Spotify.

Pop Culture

A friend shared this video to me. As someone who’s enjoyed Alice in Wonderland for years, this is an amazing rendition by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway.
C.B. Lee — I’m currently listening to Not Your Villain, a YA sequel to Not Your Sidekick. It’s a good way to spend your Sunday afternoon, either resting and relaxing or getting things done around the house.
This Instagram post has lived rent free since finding it early last week.
The IG post above is a reference to Marina. Love!
Vana is another random find.
Honey Revenge — I feel like I find every new band through either Instagram or friends. There’s no in between.
EMMY has this interesting song called Stupid Big Teeth.