Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Dec 2, 2009, 8:35 pm
Today, after months of public and private pressure on the New York State Senate to bring a marriage equality bill to the floor for a vote, it finally happened. The Assembly had already passed their v...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 26, 2009, 6:00 am
An quick update on the brutal murder of 19 year old Jorge Steven López Mercado in Puerto Rico: After the multiple vigils and rallies in the United States over the weekend demanding that the murder o...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 22, 2009, 10:59 pm
Earlier today, I attended a vigil in memory of Jorge Steven López Mercado that took place at Pier 45 in the West Village of Manhattan. I will probably post some images tomorrow. But, tonight, I want...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 21, 2009, 10:23 pm
More than a few people might be wondering why I haven't written about the brutal murder of Jorge Steven López Mercado in Puerto Rico last week. The young man's body was found decapitated, di...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 20, 2009, 3:55 am
Shock waves are still being felt in the United States over the sudden demise of several leading LGBT newspapers under the Window Media imprint after the media conglomerate announced it was shutting th...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 18, 2009, 7:50 pm
As rare as it is to have Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez on the record on LGBT rights, I wanted to share this little nugget from an interview given on the spot during his visit to Europe last month. ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 13, 2009, 1:52 pm
During my stay in Maine a couple of weeks back, as I followed the "No on 1" campaign in it's attempt to beat back an effort to strip away marriage rights from same-sex couples, I ran into two youn...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 5, 2009, 1:05 pm
So, while still in Maine, we decided that it might be a good idea to do an outing and check out some sights. First we went to Two Lights State Park, via Southern Portland. Can't say we ever spo...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 4, 2009, 1:42 am
While 'No on 1/Protect Marriage Equality' campaign director Jesse Connolly did not concede defeat at the end-of-the-night address to supporters of the campaign at the Portland Holiday Inn, th...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 3, 2009, 6:41 pm
[November 5, 2009] With 99% of precincts reporting, the Bangor Daily News says that 'No on 1' lost with 47.19% of the vote while the 'Yes on 1' side won with 52.81% of the vote. The As...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 3, 2009, 4:36 pm
OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod. The day has arrived and I have to say I feel a bit queasy. It might be my first time in Maine and I may not call the state my home but it certainly feels personal. As i...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 2, 2009, 3:39 pm
Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to today's big "No on 1" campaign 'Get Out the Vote' rally for marriage equality here in Portland but I'm pretty sure that more than a few bl...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Nov 1, 2009, 10:59 pm
UPDATE #2 (11/2/09 at 12:30am) - ALARMING NEW POLL OUT A new poll is out and the news is not good. Public Policy Polling, which had the 'Yes' and 'No' tied at 48-48 just two weeks ago...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 31, 2009, 10:59 pm
And three days to go... There was a little bit of sunshine this morning here in Portland but by evening the drizzle and rain had returned. Last night was a late one so I didn't get up until fai...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 30, 2009, 10:49 am
The leaf-strewn winds of October have brought me to Portland, Maine. I've been here less than 48 hours and I've already had my first Maine lobster and checked out both of the local gay bars, ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 30, 2009, 10:10 am
Washington State: Who we are: Approve Referendum 71 is the campaign to preserve domestic partnerships in Washington State. By voting to approve, voters retain the domestic partnership laws that were ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 28, 2009, 5:14 pm
My friend, Steven M. Mackin passed away from Ewing's Sarcoma three years ago to the day. He was always taking photos of himself and, in some ways, he fully knew that they might be for posterity. ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 28, 2009, 2:42 am
Considering the reports of extreme drug-trade fueled violence coming from Mexico these days, the three videos that surfaced anonymously on YouTube on October 16th might not qualify as being the worst ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 25, 2009, 3:14 pm
I love this story: Passersby at one of Quito's busiest downtown streets a week ago Saturday were startled to see a few women set up an impromptu beauty salon on the sidewalk using a vanity table ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 24, 2009, 10:42 pm
... ("Ecuador: Kidnapping, torture, confinement at 'ex-gay' therapy centers"). The disturbing articles, which ... from Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin ("Ex-gay torture chambers in Ecuad...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 24, 2009, 7:41 pm
In October of last year I had one of my life-time dreams fulfilled. Sure, I had already seen her perform with Vince Clarke in July of 2008 for their Yazoo reunion tour, but what I had always dreamed a...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 22, 2009, 12:31 am
Yup! I've been away from home... As for Levi, he is ever vigilant and zombie-eyed at night.
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 21, 2009, 4:13 pm
This is unusual: Jaime Camil, the leading actor in a new telenovela being broadcast in Mexico, has expressed frustration and disappointment with Televisa, the parent company, for editing out scenes i...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 18, 2009, 7:17 pm
Readers of this blog know I just adore my friend Pedro Julio Serrano. Yes! Even though I totally ruined his recent surprise birthday party when I called to tell him I couldn't make it. The thing i...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 17, 2009, 5:34 pm
A calendar released by an LGBT rights organization in Spain is raising some eyebrows for its use of religious imagery in what is a predominately Catholic country. The 2010 calendar, which had an init...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 16, 2009, 5:56 pm
In an unanimous decision announced yesterday, Brazil's Supreme Justice Tribunal ruled that transgender individuals who have undergone gender-reassignment surgery have the right to change their nam...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 16, 2009, 5:43 pm
Is this another first in Latin America? The top court in the city of Pereira, Colombia, located in the center-west state of Risaralda, has ruled that when a same-sex couple splits, the former partner...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 15, 2009, 10:12 pm
Back in March, I brought you the shocking story a man who was acquitted of murder charges in the stabbing death of a gay couple in Vigo, Spain. Jacobo Piñeiro Rial (right) had spent the afternoon of...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 7, 2009, 1:59 pm
Fines imposed on people committing a number of minor infractions have just increased exponentially in Bogotá, Colombia. Clara López, secretary of the Bogotá Government's Office, said that thes...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Oct 5, 2009, 12:51 pm
I have always been weary of business ventures selling themselves as human interest stories to get free media promotion (see, for example, the hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles about LGBT tra...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 23, 2009, 4:00 pm
André Puccinelli (right), governor of Mato Grosso du Sul, obviously felt among friends when he made some questionable comments at a business luncheon yesterday. The Governor, who has fought back a...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 21, 2009, 1:36 pm
It's no secret that one of my favorite shows on television is "The Amazing Race". From production values, to the challenges that it sets up for the contestants, to the often stunning images of co...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 20, 2009, 2:20 pm
"ATTENTION: In our community, there are more murders each day. Today's hook-up could be your murderer. Be careful of who you invite to your home" So says a number of stark black and white posters...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 18, 2009, 7:30 pm
A soccer team is down 2-1. A player scores a tying goal shot. Team members surround him to celebrate. Caught up in the emotion, one of them embraces him and plants a huge wet kiss on his mouth. Acco...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 18, 2009, 5:17 pm
A ruthless serial killer. A series of increasingly gruesome murders. Jaded dectectives on the edge. Unrelenting darkness and dread. David Fincher's "Seven"? "CSI: Miami"? Not quite. When "Ep...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 4, 2009, 8:29 pm
Been taking a breather from blogging but I wanted to stop by and share some of the groovyness from Wednesday's Pet Shop Boys concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. Initially, I had res...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Sep 1, 2009, 12:36 am
It's already September and that only means one thing: This year's installment of the annual Clubhouse Jamboree is just around the corner. Sunday, September 13th, 2009, from noon to 6pm, at Bro...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 31, 2009, 1:19 pm
Here is the thing: I have no doubt Gay.com truly, sincerely and authentically wants to get to know me a little bit better. Heck! I'm sure they are patting themselves in the back for showing some ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 28, 2009, 7:46 pm
Heart be still! GusGus has a new album coming out ("24/7") and a brand new spanking video for a new sparking single "Add This Song" (above). I dare say that they are one of my favorite bands ever, ev...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 27, 2009, 4:18 pm
It's been one full year since the Argentinian government announced that it would extend pension system coverage to same-sex couples. But today, quoting sources from the federal government, InfoBA...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 26, 2009, 6:00 am
I might be wrong here, but Mexico City seems to have become the first municipality in Latin America to adopt a hate crimes measure that specifically includes crimes committed on the basis of sexual or...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 25, 2009, 4:47 pm
Reggaeton-Cumbiamberos-Bachata-Electro-Pop-Rockeros Calle 13 recently began to Twitter at Calle13Oficial. Currently they are touring Spain and lead singer El Residente was generous enough to stop for ...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 24, 2009, 10:59 pm
When members of the Colombian lesbian organization Toque Lésbico found out that the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer would take place this past Sunday through the streets of Bogotá, they realized that it...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 19, 2009, 2:44 pm
So much for Republicans presenting US-based Puerto Rican Evangelical preacher - and right-wing religious darling - Samuel Rodriguez as a "centrist" (from a homily taped in November of 2006): We have r...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 13, 2009, 10:57 pm
Photo by Andrés Duque. Additional photos here. I am currently attending the 2009 Netroots Nation conference and the highlight might have happened tonight, on opening night, at the opening day plenar...
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Andres D. posted an article on Babbleando - Aug 10, 2009, 3:29 pm
Perú's tabloid newspaper Trome is reporting that 25 people were treated for trauma and asphyxia on early Saturday morning after two live tear-gas canisters were thrown inside a gay bar in Iquitos...
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