Marcus Reeves • Russian Roulette

In the build up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, there was much coverage of the aggressively hateful laws on the books proudly written by the Putin regime. However, the imprisonment of LGBT Russians and their supporters were quickly bounced off the front pages when the press discovered their hotels were not as plush as they would like. Stories about young people assumed to be gay who were beaten were forgotten once the Ukraine fell apart, and straight people were being shot on the streets. The existence of the laws were pushed aside for reports of hateful laws coming out of the Arizona legislation, disguised as protection of religious freedoms. But not everyone has forgotten the circumstances as quickly as the press.

British singer/songwriter Marcus Reeves wrote and produced "Russian Roulette", a sweet and charming song that takes a look at equality on a global front. While I wasn't familiar with his work before now, I can tell you Reeves has his own style, taking Pop in directions both familiar and new, sometimes at the same time. His songs seem influenced by Folk and Pop, and at times Cabaret, the style, not the film. And there is most definitely the influences of Rock 'N Roll, and some glittery Glam Rock. His performances are bold and strong, allowing his voice to soar when it should, and whisper when it can. For the music video for "Russian Roulette", Marcus enlisted the help of his global LGBT family and friends, all who offer their own words to the world. This is Marcus Reeves singing "Russian Roulette".

I love the song, and couldn't wait to buy it and add it to my collection. It offers a surprisingly soft touch to the issue, but never falters in the message that equality is something we all demand and expect. You can purchase "Russian Roulette" on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon. The proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to LGBT charities around the world, helping to promote equality. To learn more about Marcus Reeves, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' Marcus on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.

13 Years Ago • Matthew Shepard

Thirteen years ago, a young man lost his life because a group of children grew up with no respect for life. A mother can no longer hold her son because other parents failed to teach their children The Golden Rule from the book they claim to hold so dear; "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." A young adult will not celebrate his 22nd birthday because two young adults thought torture was acceptable in this country. A mother and a father will never be able to see their son celebrate a new-found love because a few people decided to celebrate hate on a dark and lonely road in Laramie, Wyoming.



Certainly this cannot happen in this country, a land that celebrates the the rights of the individual, that holds the Bill of Rights so dear? In the very same country that saw such division, such violence just thirty-some years earlier in the wake of the civil right struggle of some American citizens, you'd think the people would have grown more than that, don't you?



13 years after a young man was discovered tied to a fence, his body bloodied and beaten, all because he was a little different than his attackers. Attackers who identified the young man by the love he felt, rather than the man he was. They felt the need to answer love with the hate that grew deep within them. Hate that allowed a group of supposed 'religious' congregation to disrupt the grieving of a loving family when they picket at funeral. Hate that allows a group of Presidential candidates to make their bigotry and hate a cornerstone of their candidacy. Hate that allows people to think voting to discriminate against fellow citizens is acceptable. Hate that can be found on the streets, in the workplace, and in the schoolyards in this country, even today. Thirteen years after the beating of Matthew Shepard, 43 years after the shooting of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and 47 years following the lynching of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, you'd hope there would be no need for Garrin Benfield to write a song like this...



Yet there is. So we will not forget Matthew Shepard. We will not forget those who just said "no" at Stonewall. We will not forget the kids who are battered, both physically and emotionally, every day until they believe there is no life worth living. We will not forget the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trangendered people who were not safe on the streets of their own communities.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Third president of the United States.

Historic Vote in Senate

I can't help but mention the historic vote today, a vote which means so much more than what was just passed. By an incredible vote of 65-31, the US Senate joined the Congress, which had voted earlier in the month to pass the bill by a vote of 250-175. Once this bill is signed by President Obama, who has been a staunch supporter of the repeal, Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual members of the armed forces will be able to serve their country with the peace to know that their love will not be the reason for their career to end. They no longer have to live with the government enforced bigotry and inequality of a bad policy. It means the US Government is acknowledging that being LGTBQ does not make you less of an American, less of a patriot. This is the start of a movement toward the government not only seeing my tax dollars, but also my life as something valuable, something worthy of respect. The policy, put in place in 1993, has taken a far greater toll than most would admit, with something like 14,000 members of the military being discharged since the policy was enacted. But it was the idea behind the policy, that LGBT people were not able to serve, not worth protecting, not worth respecting, that was bad. It said the government will take out tax dollars, but not look to see us as valued citizens.

On a slightly more personal note, I am proud to know that the Congressional Representatives and Senators from the state of Delaware, newly elected Senator Chris Coons (D), Senator Tom Carper (D), and outgoing Representative Michael Castle (R), all voted in their respective houses in favor of repeal. The First State once again proved to be out in front for equality.

I am also very proud to have run videos by artists on this blog that have pointed to the problem with the policy. Two involved Tom Goss, a personal favorite of mine. The first was the song he co-wrote and performed with out singer/songwriter Matt Alber. The song, This Is Who We Are, speaks to the fear, shame and penalties brought on by the policy.



Only recently, Goss shot a video from his latest album, Back To Love. Lover is a beautiful song, made only more beautiful and aching with the video showing the effects of lovers separated by a war, and by the walls the military and the government set up to keep the lovers apart.



While this vote is a start, the policy remains in place. One would hope that while the process to end the policy is in place, all prosecution of LGBTQ service members would cease. But we should not forget this is a step, a giant one perhaps, toward equality in this country. Oddly enough, our elected representatives decided LGBT Americans were able to defend the rights and freedoms of the country before they have been able to pass legislation to enable the LGBT community to make a legal commitment to the one they love. With the more than 1,000 rights that go with marriage denied to LGBT couples, it is time for the elected officials to keep in mind it it always better to legislate with love than it is to vote with hate.