tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14793805395505030692024-03-13T23:17:06.853-07:00Here's To Hope2*Gay + 1/Mormon + Sarcasm^2 + 0.75*Serious = My Crazy BlogMax Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-90191239697466915682011-02-21T16:32:00.000-08:002011-02-21T16:36:11.039-08:00The Beginning of the EndNow that was a little dramatic, wasn't it?<br /><br />It's sort of correct, though. The bishop of the local ward came and paid Derrick and I a visit last night. We let him know where we stand and told him that we wanted to remove ourselves from the records of the church. He was very polite and diplomatic about it and said that if we did send him our resignation letters he would start the process for us.<br /><br />Now I just need to have that conversation with my parents. Ugh. That's going to be an ugly one.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-74735097642734597322011-01-31T10:26:00.000-08:002011-01-31T10:31:17.772-08:00Why the LDS Church Should Thank HollywoodSo, here's an interesting tidbit that I came across yesterday. Apparently, the actor who played John in the temple movie was one of the people who signed a petition to the First Presidency during the Prop 8 days asking that church mind their own business. His reprimand for performing such a heinous act was to be removed from the temple film. Edited right out. Read the <a href="http://www.wheatandtares.org/2011/01/30/temple-john-where-do-the-fallen-go/">details here at the Wheat and Tares</a> blog.<br /><br />It's a good thing that Hollywood has made such great technical progress over the years, otherwise the editing would be really noticeable. <br /><br />Too bad they didn't do it South Park animation-style. :PMax Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-63619364112823897072011-01-26T15:44:00.000-08:002011-01-26T15:52:44.122-08:00VegasWe went to Vegas this last weekend to see Cher. It was awesome. She's still an amazing performer after all of these years. A bit egotistical, but I'm sure that if any of us were in her shoes with an amazing 40 year entertainment career we would be the same way.<br /><br />This was my first time doing Vegas properly. I've driven through many times before on my way to/from Utah, but I've never actually stopped to enjoy the city. I'm now a very big fan.<br /><br />We gambled (it's astonishing the amount of free liquor you get when you're on the casino floor). We went to several clubs/bars in the casinos. We went to the gay club Krave - which was kind of lame. We went to The Bathhouse at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. We just had an amazing weekend. And best of all, we broke even. In fact, given the amount of free beverages we got on the casino floor, we came out WAY ahead. :)<br /><br />Additionally, we flew instead of driving. BEST DECISION EVER! I will never drive to Vegas again after that.<br /><br />Maybe we should organize a giant MoHo get-together in Vegas this summer. Get your speedos ready! ;)Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-3533637479693251182011-01-09T20:53:00.001-08:002011-01-09T20:54:31.122-08:00My Top 3 Albums of 2010Here's my annual list of the 3 best albums of last year. "Best" in my book mainly consists of which albums I was drawn to listen to over and over and over and never got tired of them. I'm neither a complex nor a pretentious music critic. :)<br /><br />Honorable mentions: Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"; OK Go "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky"<br /><br />3) This one is a tie between Sarah McLachlan "Laws of Illusion" and Kylie Minogue "Aphrodite". They are both very different albums but I absolutely love both of them. The first tracks on each album just never become boring to listen to, no matter how many times you hit repeat.<br /><br />2) Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More". This album just came out of nowhere and made me like folk music again. I had started to get tired of folk, but this album blew me out of the water and renewed my faith in the genre.<br /><br />1) Scissor Sisters "Night Work". What can I say? It is a super fun album that you can't help but shake your money maker while you're listening to it. I've listened to this album more than any other this past year.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-38067826188266342692010-12-22T10:34:00.001-08:002010-12-22T10:39:28.039-08:00Tabernacle Fire - The Painting That LivedAmidst the hub-bub of <a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/tabernacle/article_db328b06-0b0f-11e0-a131-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story">this painting</a> that partially survived the fire in the Provo Tabernacle, I have one request: Show me pictures of everything else that wasn't completely burned.<br /><br />I think we'll find that there a lot of things that only received partial damage from the flames. It's nuts to think this is some sort of sign from God. Seriously, how many of you Mormons out there believe those crazy Catholics when they see an apparition of Jesus in a tortilla or piece of toast? Yeah, that's how crazy you sound talking about the painting.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-36073260971048741482010-12-21T16:46:00.000-08:002010-12-21T17:05:07.064-08:00Be Careful Who You De-friendPeriodically I go through a "friend" purge on Facebook. There are no absolute rules to whom I de-friend, but generally if I just don't care for the person anymore I will delete them. <br /><br />I still have a ton of friends from the days when I was an active Mormon. Many have deleted me, and I have deleted some obnoxious ones in return. But, there are always those who I debate on deleting when I'm doing a purge. I usually think something like this to myself, "Self, this person hasn't really done anything to be a jerk, and you never know, they might need to hear what you have to say about gay people so that they'll change their attitude."<br /><br />As it turns out, that voice in my head is prophetic. Maybe I should start my own religion ... but I digress.<br /><br />I received an email the other day from a guy that was in one of my wards about 9 years ago. I haven't seen him in probably 8 years, and after he added me on Facebook I never did have a conversation with him - until last week.<br /><br />He emailed me to tell me to ask my opinion on how LDS parents should treat their out-of-the-closet children. No, he didn't have one of his kids come out. Rather, he is a religion teacher at the so-called "Lord's" university. One of his students sent him an email detailing how the student's twin sister is out of the closet. The student loves his sister unconditionally and is totally fine with whatever choices she makes for her life. Their parents, on the other hand, or not so hip on it. They have forbidden her from bringing her girlfriend to family functions and basically are just being douchebags about the whole thing.<br /><br />We traded a few emails back and forth about it. Apparently the mother insists that she is the reason her daughter is gay; there is something she should and could have done so that the daughter wouldn't have turned out that way. I commented on how egotistical of a statement that is for a parent to make. I then talked about how there is legitimate science that backs up a huge biological factor in why people turn out gay and how based on my own experiences and research I am convinced that my own homosexuality is 100% biological. I then made the comment that the only way the mother actually could have done anything about it would have been to have had an abortion so that the daughter didn't exist. <br /><br />I then talked about all the junk science out there that people use to refute any biology, and push archaic ideas of it being a mental disorder and changeable. <br /><br />Here's where I was stunned. He responded and wrote the following:<br /><br /><i>I'll admit that in the past I was one of those that clung to the junk science, but my views have definitely shifted the past couple of years. I was very appreciative of the notes you posted on Facebook about you own experiences; they were frank and handled with aplomb, and they directly helped to shape some of my current views. </i><br /><br />Wow! Something that I did actually changed a pretty hard-core Mormon's point of view on us gay folk. It felt really good to know that I was a part of that, but more importantly that it <i>can</i> be done.<br /><br />So, be careful who you de-friend. You might miss a great teaching opportunity.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-31982548245074873792010-10-05T08:05:00.000-07:002010-10-05T08:14:19.617-07:00AIDS Walk 2010It's time again for the AIDS Walk here in Los Angeles. It's in a week and a half, and I'm still looking for donations. If you have some money you can spare, please find it in your heart to click on the link below and donate to me and my team. Every little bit helps. Thanks!<br /><br /><a href="http://aidswalklosangeles2010.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=427581&supId=272664423" style="color:#ffffff;background-color:#cc0033;width:150;text-align:center;font-family:arial;font-weight:bolder;text-decoration:none;margin-left:35" target="_blank">Click Here to Donate</a>Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-55206654696202569492010-09-21T11:55:00.000-07:002010-09-21T11:56:10.904-07:00LiterallyI just had to repost this one for everyone to see.<br /><br /><a href="http://theoatmeal.com/comics/literally">The Oatmeal: Literally</a><br /><br />How are you doing? We haven't chatted in a while.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-90753745832362094322010-08-10T09:34:00.000-07:002010-08-10T09:40:17.560-07:00Wow!So, I was talking to my mom on the phone while I was driving home yesterday (using my legal, hands-free device of course) and she said something that I never thought I would hear her say. Ever. Not in a million years. I was shocked. I was stunned. I almost had to pull over and stop the car.<br /><br />She said, "Well, I think that you and Derrick should get married now that it's legal. If you guys are planning on spending the rest of your lives together, you need your legal protections."<br /><br />I never thought I would ever hear her dissent from the popular voice of "the church." I almost cried a little.<br /><br />Life is very good today. It's been a long road, and we've come a long way.<br /><br />Cheers!Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-26845030124681179362010-06-22T11:07:00.000-07:002010-06-22T11:10:33.374-07:00My Fireside PredictionMy cynical (but accurate) prediction of the Idaho "SSA-themed" fireside that's happening next weekend:<br /><br />A whole bunch of gay Mormons are going to meet a whole bunch of other gay Mormons and within a couple of weeks 75% of them will be confessing in the bishop's office because they hooked up with someone from the conference.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-59569905540468840352010-05-05T09:49:00.001-07:002010-05-05T11:22:01.300-07:00The Love of GodAs someone who has emerged from the tunnel with shattered faith, I sometimes think about if God really does exist. Part of me wants to be realistic and just accept the fact that he probably doesn't, given the evidence of the chaos and catastrophe inflicted upon mankind because of (and in the name of) religion. On the other hand, I've always been "in tune" with a spiritual part of myself, and still am. That part really wants to believe in an afterlife. I love D more than anything, and I don't want it to just be until we die.<br /><br />So, my agnosticism prevails. I'm not completely persuaded one way or the other.<br /><br />One thing that does persuade me toward the realistic view is some of the lame statements from people with respect to the love of God. I say that with reference to <a href="http://mormoninthecloset.blogspot.com/">Scott's blog</a>, and his seemingly impending split from Sarah. The things that the self-righteous religious folk comment on there just makes me fume. Other comments just make me roll my eyes at the absurdity.<br /><br />One of the recent comments that I found absurd was "God loves you and is mindful of this entire situation." Really? If God is mindful of the situation, then why doesn't God do anything about it? Why did he encourage them to get married in the first place, knowing that it would end up in a tremendous amount of pain for everyone involved? Why send children into a family that he knew wouldn't be able to stay together? Honestly, it seems more like God's cruel joke than him being loving and mindful.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-76420109845534014832010-04-02T10:40:00.000-07:002010-04-02T11:26:07.483-07:00Three Months LaterHas it really been three months since I last wrote? It's true, once the angst was out of me I lost my muse. Although, from a personal sanity perspective, that's not a bad thing to lose. :) So, here are some random thoughts.<br /><br />Where am I at right now in my life? I am happy. I love the person I am with. We're like an old married couple now. We've lived together for 1.5 years now (wow!). The honeymoon is over and now we're just living our lives. We have plans for the future (that are totally flexible, depending on what random opportunities come our way). We have great friends here in So Cal (and other places too). We have a lot of great things going for us. <br /><br />I wouldn't say that we live in bliss. We just live like a normal, loving couple. He does have some personality quirks that get on my nerves occasionally (and I know that I have some that bug him as well), but show me one couple in the world where that isn't the case. The best part of being committed to each other is being able to get over the little annoyances of life and still have the person you love lying next to you at the end of the day.<br /><br />Here's something that may be interesting to a few of you. I think that our relationship is very different than a classical one. It's kind of a touchy issue to address, and I'm sure there are gay MoHo couples out there who would disagree with our perspective: We are both completely okay with the other person looking at, making comments about, and even touching other hot boys. It's kind of a game to see who can spot the hottest guy at the beach, or at the bar, or wherever we find ourselves. We are realistic. We're both men, and we're both gay - we're always going to want to look. And gay men also seem to have the propensity to look more than straight men do anyway.<br /><br />Ours is not like some lame hetero relationship where the guy looks for half a second too long at some passerby and his wife gets all up in arms about it. We aren't jealous like that. We don't feel threatened by it. We both know who it is we love and want to go home with. And you know what? It works. <br /><br />The other day we saw this guy with the most amazing abs ever and I commented, "Wow, I wish I had abs like that!" D's response was, "I wouldn't complain if you had abs like that." It was funny. It wasn't offensive. We like our relationship being like that. It takes a lot of pressure off.<br /><br />Anyway, those are my random thoughts for now. Maybe I'll think of something else to write before another three months pass...<br /><br />TTFN!Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-84765708377470889692010-01-04T17:26:00.000-08:002010-01-04T17:39:06.908-08:00A Goal, Not a ResolutionThis year I decided to improve my sub-par photographic skills. So, I'm reading more. Looking at and analyzing professional pictures more. And, most importantly, taking more pictures. As a matter of fact, my goal is to do a 365 day photo blog this year. I'm posting one photo each day that I have taken during that day. The first few days were easy (especially since I was on vacation and had plenty of time to find photo opportunities). It will be very challenging on normal work days to come up with a photograph that evening. Yikes! I'm already freaking out.<br /><br />If you care to take a look at it and follow it during the year, the URL is:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmerrell/sets/72157622992982395/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmerrell/sets/72157622992982395/</a><br /><br />I think that the first three days of the photo blog are not representative of my skills - they were lucky shots and far cooler than what I'm usually capable of. :)<br /><br />Oh, and this confirms my identity to anyone who has wondered. I don't really feel much need for anonymity anymore. Although, I may still refer to myself as Max Power and my partner as D, just to keep the consistency here in my blog.<br /><br />Cheers in the new year!Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-40752403180650350862009-12-22T09:04:00.000-08:002009-12-22T09:55:55.990-08:00A LetterI received a letter (well, email) from an acquaintance I used to go to church with. We'll call him Mr. X. It is posted here for your entertainment.<br /><br /><i><br />Hey [Max],<br /><br />It's [Mr. X]. How have you been?<br /><br />Hey, I know this will catch you a little bit off guard, but I heard recently that you haven't been seen as often around HB1. Maybe you're seen more around another ward, but I just wanted to check in on you and see how you're doing. I did hear of an "announcement" that you made via email a while back, and to be honest, the details are neither here nor there with me. Really I just wanted to reach out to you as a friend and brother to invite you with all of my heart to come back (if you haven't been going) as I know our Heavenly Father and the Savior are well aware of you and love you. Of this I have no doubt.<br /> <br />I do not pretend by this email that you and I are <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1261501553_0">best friends</span> by any means, but we have known each other for many years, and I will say that I've always looked up to you with all of the talents that you've been given. You blessed our <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1261501553_1">Priesthood</span> meetings week after week by playing inspiring hymns to start out those meetings, and I only wish I had those talents to do the same, but I do not have them at this point, and that was where you with your abilities were able to bless the kingdom, among various other areas of service you rendered. I also know that you have a testimony of the gospel.<br /><br />[Max], for what it's worth, I want you to know that I know that the Savior lives. His hand is outstretched still. I have felt that power in my life when I have fallen short. The Atonement is for us, who don't always quite live up to our capabilities. I know that He is the Head of the Church and that he directs it through his Holy Prophets. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1261501553_2">The Spirit</span> testifies this to me. The <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1261501553_3">Book of Mormon</span> was indeed written for our time. This is especially apparent to me as I read the book of Helaman through 3rd Nephi 11, which can parallel our world current events and/or preparation for the 2nd Coming. <br /><br />For some reason, and I don't know why, as I have now left HB, you have been on my mind lately and really have felt that I've needed to write you this message, and felt I needed to act on these promptings. I pray that it will be taken in the right Spirit and with the feeling of tenderness from a brother who knows of the goodness that you have.<br /><br />I hope to talk to you soon and wish you God speed in everything you do.<br /><br />Your friend,<br /><br />[Mr. X]<br /></i><br /><br />I just kind of sighed as I read it. I'm not sure if I'm going to respond or not. I really don't feel a great urge to.<br /><br />Since I know this person quite well (we went to church together for several years and served in an Elder's Quorum Presidency together for about a year), I can see the undertones. I know his personality. I know how he talks in church. There are some underlying things in here that I know are going through his head based on what he wrote and what I have known him to be like in the past.<br /><br />One thing I find ironic about this letter, and the general way that many Mormons seem to react to inactive/ex members is they always claim how much they love you, yet find a way to be very condescending in their message. His statement "...who don't always quite live up to our capabilities" made me scratch my head a bit. How does he know whether or not I'm living up to my capabilities? I think I am. And the statement about me falling short. That's not judgmental at all, right?<br /><br />My favorite part is when he dismisses my coming out of the closet as an "announcement", using the quotation marks. Classy.<br /><br />It was also nice to find out that my most memorable contribution to the ward over years and years of service (and serving with him in an EQP) was playing the hymns for priesthood meeting. Really, Mr. X? That's all you can come up with? I did a whole lot more than that over the years, especially when I picked up all the slack you left in the EQP.<br /><br />And he "knows of the goodness that [I] have." It seems that I've gotten rid of all my goodness and am only exuding badness these days. Well, I was in the No on 8 camp, so obviously I am hell-bent on the destruction of America, the family and freedom of religion.<br /><br />Mr. X, do you really think that a preachy email is going to inspire me to go back to church? It was a lame attempt. But, I will gladly accept your wish of "God speed in everything [I] do" as I fight for civil equality for all Americans.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-46159356467184001352009-11-17T12:16:00.001-08:002009-11-17T12:32:29.250-08:00A Little More ThoughtI have put a little more thought into the transpirings in SLC last week with the church supporting a few limited gay rights. I wanted to briefly expound a little on some of my previous comments.<br /><br />I think that generally, the church is pulling a thinly-veiled PR stunt. They are just trying to save some face. 99% of the GA's doesn't give a shit about you as a gay person. It's an attempt to build up some ammo for future confrontations they will have with the gay community over the marriage issue - "Oh look, we love gay people, we support their rights!" They are going to continue to fight tooth and nail against us in our quest for equal treatment under the law.<br /><br />I was delighted to see Elder Holland's comment last Thursday. I met him and had a good, long conversation with him once while I was on my mission. I don't expect anyone else to take my word for it, but from that experience I do think that he really is as sincere and genuine as he appears to be.<br /><br />His comment on Thursday does not change what the leaders are generally trying to do, but it does show me one thing. It shows me that there is one person in the leadership who is beginning to open their mind. I doubt that he's on board for gay marriage at this point, but I do see him as a compassionate person who may help to temper some of the ire from the general leadership over this issue.<br /><br />I do not view the announcement by Otterson at the SLC council meeting as a baby step, but I do view Holland's statement as that.<br /><br />The problem with the church lately is that rather than making progress through the "2 steps forward, 1 step back" shtick, they seem to be doing the "1 step forward, 2 steps back" routine which will ultimately end in a negative accrual of steps.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-8703464119885684022009-11-15T10:37:00.000-08:002009-11-15T10:44:13.090-08:00For Next SummerIt's time to put a little thought into vacations for next year, especially if they are going to happen in the first half of the year.<br /><br />D and I are planning on going to <a href="http://www.gaydays.com/">Gay Days at Disney World Orlando</a> the first weekend of June. Maybe we'll see you there!Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-36865239965382931932009-11-12T14:18:00.000-08:002009-11-12T14:20:47.428-08:00Baby Steps LegitimizedWOW! Did you guys see this today? <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13766464">From the SLTrib</a>:<br /><br /><i>"Anything good is shareable," Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said in an interview Wednesday, referring to Salt Lake City's new policy aimed at protecting gay and transgender residents from discrimination.<br /><br />He praised the efforts of Mormon officials and gay-rights leaders who sat down to discuss the issue before the church's endorsement.<br /><br />"Everybody ought to have the freedom to frame the statutes the way they want," he said. "But at least the process and the good will and working at it, certainly that could be modeled anywhere and even elements of the statute." </i><br /><br />That is a statement that I can welcome as sincere and legit. And it came from someone in the Q12. Kudos, Elder Holland. Tip o' the hat to ya.<br /><br />Holland is the new Hugh B Brown. ;)Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-3399240927607472212009-09-29T13:48:00.000-07:002009-09-29T13:50:21.310-07:00For Immediate Release<span style="font-size:130%;">Alternative Conference set for Oct. 3-4</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Official Gay Agenda</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009</span></span><br /><br /><br />The 12th Annual Alternative Conference of the Latter-gay church, to which all members are invited, will convene at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4, 2009, with general sessions held at Disneyland on Saturday at 8 a.m. and California Adventure on Sunday at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.<br /><br />A special pre-Conference Pride Cocktail hour will be held on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, at 5 p.m. PST at the Grand Californian Hotel.<br /><br />In those areas where members of the church can conveniently attend the conference in Anaheim, or participate via radio, television, satellite or Internet transmission at www.gaydaysanaheim.com, they should be encouraged to do so. Under these circumstances the usual Sunday meetings need not be held on Oct. 4.<br /><br />In areas where only one Sunday session is broadcast, local leaders have the option to adjust meeting schedules or, where appropriate, to rearrange the agenda of regularly scheduled meetings to permit their members to listen to or watch alternative conference by radio, television, satellite or Internet transmissionMax Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-68228080869009210982009-09-25T09:33:00.000-07:002009-09-25T09:46:20.419-07:00L.A. AIDS Walk 2009So, this year D and I are attending the L.A. AIDS Walk. He took the lead at his company for getting walkers and sponsors. I'm proud of him. He's done a good job so far, given the fact that half the people he works with are Mormon. So, please, help us out by clicking the link on the right column of this page and donating a little bit to the cause. It's in 3 weeks (Oct 18th), so don't dawdle!<br /><br />I was talking about the AIDS walk with some of my coworkers (as my company also has a group doing the walk). They all know that I was raised Mormon, so there have been several interesting conversations arise from that. This was no exception. I was asked what most Mormon's opinions of AIDS was.<br /><br />I sat there for a bit, and thought back to all the things I had heard about AIDS as I grew up in Utah. And, I shamefully had to admit, that most Mormons (that I knew in Utah and those that I know locally, not necessarily the entire church, but a pretty good sample) thought of AIDS as a just punishment for the dirty, nasty homosexuals out there. If the dirty homosexuals wouldn't have started f***ing monkeys in Africa, then God wouldn't have punished humanity with this disease. Honestly, that is the perception of AIDS that I grew up with in Utah.<br /><br />I posted the link for donations on Facebook. Most of my friends on FB are Mormon, so I don't really expect any to donate. I hope I'm proven wrong.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-9577229213854833842009-09-17T22:31:00.000-07:002009-09-17T22:45:22.111-07:00Gay General ConferenceSo, the weekend of General Conference has an, um, alternative choice. You can call it a Gay General Conference of sorts. The rest of us call it <a href="http://www.gaydaysanaheim.com/">Gay Days at Disneyland</a>.<br /><br />It's ironic that the event is always held the first weekend in October, the same weekend as General Conference. I guess it's a blessing to the Mormon families that their children won't witness homosexuality at large, since they will all be home or at the stake centers watching all sessions of conference.<br /><br />If any of you are going to be in town, or want to come down for the gay version of General Conference, D and I will be going (and probably going both days). Drop me a line and we can caravan to it as a big gaggle of fags. If you want to come in from out of town, we could probably host you in our spare bedroom.<br /><br />Hope to see you there!Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-74386454806179803062009-09-16T18:19:00.000-07:002009-09-16T18:25:35.337-07:00Great QuoteI've been conversing with a friend of mine about being gay and Mormon. She left the church last year over the Prop 8 issue, and really has some bitter feelings about it. She is also straight, married and has 3 kids. BUT, she has a gay cousin who is her ultra-super-mega BFF (hence her bitterness at Prop 8).<br /><br />In explaining her contempt for the church over it's stance on gay issues, she brought up that when she was a teenager she heard Vaughn Featherstone speak at a youth conference she attended. His comment was "homosexuality is a thought-up thing."<br /><br />I love the ignorance of the church leaders some times.<br /><br />Sigh.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-48994446883387697652009-08-27T23:33:00.000-07:002009-08-27T23:49:45.349-07:00So Busy!I haven't written for a while. I'm going to chalk it up to being super busy. Although, with as much activity as I put into Facebook, all of you who are friends with me are going to call my bluff. I guess my blog has been a little "out of sight, out of mind" lately.<br /><br />I have nothing really gay to write about tonight, I just am letting you all know that I sold my home ... and I made a killing on it! I bought back in Jan 2002, just as the So Cal housing boom was taking off. The value of my place peaked at about double what I paid for it. Since then, it has lost some of that "value" but I'm still selling it for a large profit. Not bad. Not bad at all!<br /><br />Some of you may balk at me for selling at the "bottom" of the market. Well, things in So Cal are not like things in the rest of the country. Studying the So Cal real estate market is quite a passion of mine. In a nutshell, most parts of the country may have seen corrections (and over-corrections) in home values to the point where they have achieved decent stability and shouldn't really go much lower. BUT, So Cal (Orange County especially) is still waaaaaaaaaay overpriced on the high end. The low-end housing is actually in an affordable price range, but really, who wants to live in the slums of Santa Ana or further inland where it is ugly, dirty and a brazillion degrees during the summer? Anyway, prices will drop a lot more until things are in a reasonable price range that people can reasonably afford.<br /><br />So, D and I are moving over Labor Day weekend to a brand new apartment complex in Irvine. It's pretty sweet, and I'm pretty excited to take a break from homeownership (but not a break from homo) and be able to call the maintenance guy to come fix crap when it breaks. We also have a community garden in it, so I can do some real gardening (unlike the somewhat pathetic patio gardening I've been trying to do this year).<br /><br />Anyone want to come party it up over Labor Day weekend? You can help move stuff on Saturday, and then we'll go to the gay beach in Laguna Beach on Sunday and Monday. Bring your speedo!Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-17520435163036264262009-08-04T22:49:00.000-07:002009-08-04T22:52:36.312-07:00Follow UpUnsurprisingly, the folks at samesexattraction.org caught wind of the last blog post of mine and promptly edited their website to no longer reference my blog.<br /><br />Fortunately, the magic of the internet is preserved in <a href="http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:8_ALr6l_c5IJ:www.samesexattraction.org/really_overcome.htm+Do+people+really+overcome+same-sex+attraction%3F&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us">cached pages from google</a>.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-44437448001934809552009-07-31T22:44:00.000-07:002009-08-01T08:58:59.126-07:00Overcoming Same-Sex AttractionLet me start this post by saying this, "HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!"<br /><br />The reason why I am laughing is probably because I am delirious from working approximately 17 hours today. But the thing that originally drove me into the maniacal laughter was the irony of a certain website having a link to my blog.<br /><br />Who knows, by the time you read this I may not be linked on there any more. But, as I checked the traffic on my blog today, I saw that one person had entered my blog via a link from the site www.samesexattraction.org. Notably, from the page entitled "<a href="http://www.samesexattraction.org/really_overcome.htm">Do people really overcome same-sex attraction?</a>"<br /><br />It appears that some time ago, my blog was referred to as a place to go to read about someone who had overcome their same-sex attraction. And that made me ask myself, "Have I overcome my same-sex attraction?"<br /><br />I would say that yes, I have overcome my same-sex attraction, but probably not in the way that website is referring to the word "overcome". I have overcome it in the sense that:<br />- I no longer look on it as a burden<br />- I no longer look on it as something to loathe<br />- I no longer see it as a stumblingblock to living my life<br />- I no longer see it as something to be ashamed of<br />- I no longer see it as something I have to diminish or suppress<br />- I no longer stress over it<br />- I no longer see it as something that will keep me from having my own family in this life<br />- I no longer see it as evil and filthy<br />- I no longer see it as destructive<br />- I no longer see it as a hurdle to a <i>completely</i> satisfying relationship<br />- I no longer see it as a fog, obscuring me from feeling the warmth of love<br /><br />Yes, I have indeed overcome the dark side of same-sex attraction.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479380539550503069.post-60796581504806214192009-07-20T22:57:00.000-07:002009-07-20T23:41:26.119-07:00The Boom Boom RoomThe Boom Boom Room was a landmark gay club in Laguna Beach, CA. It closed a couple of years ago due to being sold. The new owner had plans to tear it down and build a boutique hotel. But, up to this point it has just sat vacant, and thanks to the crappy economy appears to be up for sale again.<br /><br />You have to understand gay history here in So Cal a little before I go on. Orange County is NOT gay friendly by any stretch of the imagination. This is where the crux of the Yes on 8 people came from. It's where all the crazy televangelists come from. It was spoken of with disdain in the movie Milk:<br /><br /><i>ANNE KRONENBERG: Not great. State Senator John Briggs is Anita Bryant's go-to guy in California for sure. He's filed his petition for a statewide referendum to fire all gay teachers and anyone who supports them.<br /><br />[A pall falls over the room. This is worse than expected.]<br /><br />HARVEY MILK: How many signatures will he need to qualify for the ballot?<br /><br />CLEVE JONES: Whatever. He can get them in two Sundays at church in Orange-f***ing-County.</i><br /><br />Being gay in O.C. is not all that great, except for in one place: Laguna Beach. It was established as an artist's community, and drew a lot of gays early on. It has always been a haven of sorts for the gay community of O.C. who don't want to travel up to West Hollywood. It was home to the first openly gay mayor in the US. It's quaint. It's artistic. It has a great <a href="http://laguna.gaycities.com/beaches/50013-west-street-beach">gay beach</a>. And for decades, the club scene in Laguna Beach was served by the Boom Boom Room.<br /><br />D and I met a guy who spearheaded the effort to <a href="http://savetheboom.com/">save the Boom Boom Room</a>. He had someone follow him around with a video camera and record a documentary about it. It's been shown at quite a few film festivals around the world. It's not a high quality film, but it is a high quality story. We got the chance to see it at it's premiere showing in Laguna Beach last week. It was great. If you have some time and want to see the documentary, go to <a href="http://savetheboom.com/">savetheboom.com</a> and click on the video links on the left hand side of the page. It's excerpts from the full documentary. <br /><br />And, if you happen to know anyone with $10-12 million that wants to buy a large, beachfront property in Laguna Beach, D and I will be happy to reopen and manage the Boom Boom Room and adjacent hotel for you. :)<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=boom+boom+room,+laguna+beach,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.978077,71.894531&ie=UTF8&ll=33.531316,-117.775225&spn=0.022209,0.034254&t=h&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=boom+boom+room,+laguna+beach,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.978077,71.894531&ie=UTF8&ll=33.531316,-117.775225&spn=0.022209,0.034254&t=h" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />After the film, we got to meet some of the local gay crowd from Laguna Beach. It was crazy. There were 8 of us that went to dinner, and 4 of us were raised Mormon. I swear there's a gay gene floating through the Mormon veins. I need to write another blog about that experience. Hopefully I remember to later this week.Max Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955796304197971564noreply@blogger.com6