As we don’t own a television, I’m usually about the last one to know what’s great on TV these days. However, I caught wind of what looks like a great new TV series that’s about to premiere, and I’ve seen no other mention of anywhere on this site, so I’ll take the opportunity here and now to introduce it to the dkos community. The series is called Gaycation. It’s the creation of actress Ellen Page and her friend Ian Daniel. I know what you might be thinking: This is one of those travelogues showing off sumptuous tourist destinations intended for rich and entitled LGBT travelers. It’s not that at all. Page and Daniel travel the country and the world visiting LGBT communities to show how they live, how they celebrate, and how they endure hardship and discrimination. Here’s the trailer:
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Gaycation is being carried by a new network called Viceland, which appears to be a collaboration between theNew York Times and the A & E Network. Also, there is ambiguity as to when it’s actually premiering; I’ve found both Feb. 29 and March 1 listed as premiere dates. Whatever. As I don’t have access to any networks, I’ll have to wait until the series starts streaming to see any of it.
In addition to sampling LGBT life in exotic locations, the hosts interview and profile LGBT people who have suffered violence and rejection. Further, Ellen Page herself confronts some of the haters. The trailer shows her confronting Ted Cruz on the campaign trail in Iowa. Elsewhere in the series, The hosts confront a Brazilian police officer who brags about killing LGBT people. Ian Daniel said of that confrontation:
A person who is standing in front of you is saying I’ve killed people like you, I’m going to do it again, and there are other people like me who are killing people like you … It’s scary in that it’s just hard to hear.
Page and Daniel also attend the first public pride event in Jamaica, a country well known for its rampant homophobia. This series is about celebration and courage in the LGBT community worldwide and its struggle for equal rights and dignity. This is a show worth watching.
And now...on to the comments!
Top Comments (February 18, 2016):
Thank you for your submissions!
From Puddytat:
Swallow anything in your mouth before reading Sandino's brilliant snark in this comment about the "orphans" Cliven Bundy will be leaving behind if he's convicted.
From asterkitty and Smoh:
This WHOLE comment thread in this diary by InteGritty is pure collective genius. I recommend the whole thing, all of it, as least as of 10:45 this morning. (Diary is up to 1074 comments at the time this submission was formatted. Whoa!) From asterkitty, who is sitting here with her mouth hanging open at the sheer brilliance of everyone involved. (Both asterkitty AND Smoh submitted the entire diary’s comment threads! A first for Top Comments!)
From Greg Dworkin:
This comment, by pelagicray,hits on a key difference between politics and policy supporters
and this comment, by stellaluna, on how blindly defending a position/attacking messenger leaves those on the fence grappling for answers.
Even if they are not selected they are still top comments!
And one more (people are chatty in APR!), in this comment by singe to Denise Oliver Velez, with a terrific message on racism and SCOTUS.
From Avilyn:
Sending this on to the group inbox to make sure it doesn't get lost -
From the Top Comments diary last night, Tara the Antisocial Social Worker had this important truth about the November election.
From elfling:
Wicked riffing is what I love most about comments. The first comment maybe isn’t so exciting on its own, but keep reading. samanthab kicked it all off with this intro comment!
Top Mojo (February 17, 2016):
Top Mojo is courtesy of mik! Click here for more on how Top Mojo works.
Top Pictures (February 18, 2016):
Tonight’s picture quilt is courtesy of jotter!