It gets better

The last thing posted to this blog was a touching and powerful piece by my blogging partner, Justin Spade, about his sexuality. Sadly, just days after his post in hopes of reaching others about this mistreatment of gays, stories of teenage suicide swarmed the news and internet as a result of school-aged gays being bullied because of their sexual preferences. Being gay, as Justin said, is not a bad thing. It is part of life and EVERYONE should have the right to be attracted to and love who they want to; all without being judged and taunted for it. It saddens me that such tragic things currently are happening to the gay community, but thank God for the individuals who are fed up and want to take a stand!

As Lady Gaga says, “I was born this way!” Gay, straight, transgender, bisexual, green, blue – whatever the case may be, God created us all in a certain way and everyone should love themselves no matter what. People will always whisper, maybe even push and shove, but remembering to stay true to yourself is the most important thing you can do.

As a result of these recent heartbreaking events, no-shame-in-his-game, celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton is taking action against bullying towards gay youth with his #itgetsbetter campaign. He has blogged, posted youtube videos and even reached out to fellow celebs to help in these beautiful efforts. Perez and other stars like Tim Gunn, the cast of Fox’s Glee and even MTV’s first TJ, Gabi Gregg, has agreed to all make videos encouraging gay youth to talk to someone regarding their concerns about being young and gay. Many kids and teens have looked to suicide as the answer to solve their problems of torment, but Perez and friends what them all to know that suicide is never the way out.

As a fan of Perez Hilton, Lady Gaga, Tim Gunn and many other LGBT celebs, I fully support their efforts. I have several close gay friends to whom I love dearly and the thought of others like me having their gay friends bullied and committing suicide honestly hurts!

For more information about this campaign, follow Perez Hilton on twitter or visit his website.

Profile of a Gay Man

Homosexual, queer, gay, faggot, sodomite, GLBT. If those don’t work you could try “that way”, “a bit funny”, “on the bus”, “batting for the other team”. Any way you want to put it, it describes me. I am a simple, young man, who attends college, and is from a small town in Michigan; I also happen to identify myself as being gay. Along with all of these terms listed previously, I still identify myself as a human. Today, I feel less like a human, and more like a freak or some creature that doesn’t belong in the United States. Oh, you may say cut the dramatics, but do you know the facts? Do you understand what it is to walk in my shoes? Please, read on and maybe you will be able to grasp what I’m saying.

Are you allowed to openly express who you are? I’m not. In the United States, if I want to join the military and they find out I’m gay, I’m kicked out. I’m discharged and banned from fighting for the freedom of my country because of who I am. The reason, of course, is because I could disrupt the functionality and cohesion of my fellow soldiers, because I will try to have homosexual intercourse with all of the heterosexual men I am around. I would like to thank the federal government for being mature and not using that stigma in making their decision on repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Are you allowed to openly express who you are? I’m not. In the state of Michigan, and almost every other state excluding ten, I can be legally fired from my job at any moment because I am gay. In the state of Michigan, and almost every other state excluding about twenty, I can legally be discriminated against. In most states, crimes performed against me because I am homosexual are not considered a hate crime, and therefore the criminal would face a lesser charge. In the United States of America there is not one single federal law that protects me as a homosexual from discrimination, or gives me opportunity and equal rights that I would have if I was heterosexual.

Are you allowed to openly express who you are? I’m not. If I were to join the group Boy Scouts of America I would hastily be kicked out in fear I could corrupt the functionality of the organization. If I were to attempt to adopt a child I would be denied by almost every adoption agency in the country, and some States would even go as far to say it is illegal for me to be a father, because to the government, a child having no parent is better than having two dads. If I were to want to marry my partner I would have five out of fifty states to choose from to do so, and I would have to stay in that state in order for it to be considered legal.

Can you imagine? All of this is because of who I love, who I give myself to, and who I fall asleep next to at night. When asking for equal rights, its as if we are asking for permission to murder someone. We are not asking for permission to fornicate in public, or to rub our lifestyles in the faces of others. We are asking for the same rights heterosexuals are given because we are all humans. The federal government, who’s officials are always speaking of the freedoms we have and so on, are the ignorant culprits in this calamity of a situation.

You know, the other day I was at work, working behind the customer service desk at the grocery store I work at, and I was giving change to a young man, who I guessed was probably around the age of 26. I reached out, change in my hand, preparing to drop it in his hand, when he pulled his hand back to let the change hit the counter. I looked at him, and he glared at me as he picked the change up off the counter, said “faggot”, and walked away. Ignorance, my friends, is something myself and every other homosexual, queer, faggot, gay, GLBT community member faces on a daily basis. When is it going to end? Who is going to bring change? When will you look at me and not think “he’s a fag”, but rather think “he’s a human”.

- Justin

New York Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2011 Collections

As New York Fashion Week has ended, I want to take time to reflect on some of the amazing collections shown this year.

Although I was not in attendance for any of the Spring and Summer 2011 shows, I followed tweets, blogs, and websites, looked at lots and lots of photos and even viewed a few live stream shows to keep up with the fabulousness that is NYFW!

Orange and grey dominated the runways as these two colors were on the color palate of more than half of the collections shown. Silky fabrics along with lace and several khaki influences were also seen all across the board. Blues, purples and floral patterns also made numerous appearances.

Pre-Fashion Week, I was a Cynthia Rowley, Christian Siriano and Betsey Johnson fan but after seeing their masterpieces hit the runway, I fell in love even more. And not to much surprise, I was captivated by a few collections I had not thought about looking at previously. And let me tell you, I think I just became obsessed with Jason Wu, Jeremy Scott, Barbra TFrank and even Posh Spice herself, Victoria Beckham.

Collections:

Cynthia Rowley – This collection caters to the modern working woman who knows how to have fun. Both bright and pastel colors, flirty peek-a-boo circles and hints of see-through garments graced the runway. Sexy, strappy wedges and tribal-inspired necklaces also accompanied these fun pieces.



Christian Siriano – Siriano is known for “Tranny Messes” but this collection was anything but. The light and delicate dresses presented at the beginning of the line perfectly flowed into the stunning patterned dresses toward the middle all the way to the red carpet looks at the end. From flowy to fitted, this collection stayed true to femininity.



Betsey Johnson – If anyone knows of Betsey, they know she is all about fun! Yet again, Betsey stayed true to her brand theme with lots of neon colors, fierce, fun prints, sailor hats and my personal favorite, rain boots and rompers.




Jason Wu – Jason Wu became ultra famous when he designed Michelle Obama’s stunning Inaugural gown; and by the looks of his S/S 2011 collection, I wouldn’t be surprised if Michelle was hitting the young designer up for many, many more. From androgynous to pure feminine, this collection was full of funky floral patterns paired with striped shirts and girly blazers. Fresh summer dresses and pieces with hints of mod also played a key roll in this collection.




Jeremy Scott – Jeremy Scott has worked with big names like Lady Gaga and Kanye West, just to name a few. His extravagant, New York-inspired collection captured a funky, edgy look all while maintaining a playful and fun depiction of the Big Apple. Jeremy sent his version of meat dresses, shopping bags and ticket stubs down the runway. It was both esthetically pleasing as well as entertaining.




Barbra TFrank – While Jason Wu’s collection had hints of mod, Barbra’s S/S 2011 line was all about it! Although many of her previous collections have been vintage-inspired, this one just screams Jackie O; and it was fab! Pretty pastels, A-lines and sexy cuts headed down the runway for this collection. And let’s not forget about the fab head scarves all of the models wore.



Victoria Beckham - From draping to skin tight dresses, Victoria Beckham knows how to make a woman’s body look flattering. Pure sexiness hit the runway all while staying classy with the help of belted dresses as well as tea cup shaped cocktail dresses, along with a little bit of glitter.



There were plenty more designers who showed their collections at NYFW, but I just wanted to share with you all my personal favorites.

Photo Credit: Style.com

--Jessica

#VMA

Anybody who is anybody tuned into the VMAs last night. What would Kanye do? What would Lady Gaga wear? Would Justin Bieber steal the show? Nobody knew how it would all play out this year, especially after the fiasco of last years show! I would say in some ways the show was amazingly captivating, but in others it was a let down.

To nobodies surprise, Lady Gaga stole the show. Not only did she look stunning in every single one of her outfits, including the meat dress (which was NOT made of real meat, so PETA can calm down). Every award she won, she deserved. And how about when she announced the title of the next album? "Born This Way" is a testament, not only to the gay community, but to everyone in the world. Oh, and lets not forget her 30 second performance. May I just say that even though she sang only 2 lines from a song, she stole the show.

The rest of the night was lackluster. Chelsea Handler was not all that funny, Taylor and Kanye both bombed their performances, Justin Bieber and Usher lip synced, and there was not really any drama. Oh well, what can you do? Our queen won 8 awards, and I suppose that is all that matters!

We do want to give props to the other winners of the night (minus Bieber, he can suck it) Eminem and 30 Seconds To Mars, because they really did deserve their winnings too! Nobody was surprised J.B. won best new artist, but I think it should have gone to Jason Derulo.

All in all Im going to give the award show 3 out of 5 stars, and the only reason it gets that rating is because Gaga saved the show! What are your thoughts? Tweet to us at https://twitter.com/JuMo1! Peace, love, and remember, we were born this way!

(photo below is Lady Gaga giving some monster love at the VMA's)

Halloween is around the corner...

You didn’t realize it until you walked into your neighborhood Target the other day and saw a section filled with fun-sized candy and a ridiculous amount of orange and black merchandise. Like it or not, Halloween is just around the corner!
Pop culture is at its finest, and this year we are bringing you a list of Halloween costume ideas that pay homage to the rise in celebrity drama, reality TV and great music.



Halloween Costumes and what you’ll need:

Lady Gaga – Glitter, sequence, blond wig or yellow wig, soda cans to roll in your hair. The choices are endless. Visit her website to pre-order Lady Gaga costume pieces.


Antoine Dodson – Red bandanna for your head, black beater and a “hood diva” attitude.
Snooki – This may require a few trips to the tanning salon, but if you are into the protection of your skin, stick with lots of hair spray, a bump it and a white plastic clip.
Avatar – As the biggest award-winning movie of the year, you can be a hit with tons of blue paint!
Michael Jackson – Red leather jacket, white socks, black loafers and a glitter glove.
A pregnant woman – In the spirit of knocked up celebs and the popular MTV show, Teen Mom and just young pregnancies in general, stuff your shirt as if you have a bun in the oven.
Katy Perry and Russell Brand – Celebrity couple! For pulling off Katy Perry you will need a blue wig, a sequin dress and a can of whipped cream in attempt to mock her ‘California Gurls’ video. To pull off Russell Brand, you will need extra tight jeans, a hairy chest and a vest. A brunette wig with bangs and curls will top it off.


Kanye West – Trendy attire and a microphone. (While at a party, frequently interrupt conversations)
Paris Hilton – Blond wig, extensions, a NON designer purse and some white powder.
Lindsay Lohan – Hand cuffs, extensions or a wig and an orange jumpsuit. Go the extra mile and wrap something thick and black around your ankle as if it is a tether.
Justin Bieber – Bangs peeping out under a fitted had, skater boy shoes and a button up shirt. To make it really funny, get an entourage of girls to follow you around the club or party you attend.
Real Housewife – Danielle from RHNJ will require a brunette wig or extensions. Carry around a video tape as if it’s her awful sex tape. And don't forget your extremely arched eyebrows!


Drake – Bushy eyebrows!
Nicki Manaj – Stuffed pants to create the illusion of her massive ass, a pink wig and a necklace that says Barbie.
Taylor Swift – Blond wig and a guitar. If you really want to get ballsy, accompany a friend to an outing who is dressed as Kanye West.

Good Luck, have fun and make it sassy! Happy Halloween!

--Jessica

Hey, Men!

Alright men, we've heard you, and promise to start posting more ideas for mens fashion! Now that school is back in session, and summer is turning into fall, we now find ourselves being poor and cold! Time to hit the shops for a cheap new wardrobe! Recently, because of Jessica, I discovered that the store Forever 21 has a mens line.

Not every forever 21 store has a mens section, but shopping online is obviously the next best option. Forever 21 offers a variety of looks that is sure to please any guy, and it is all at an extremely affordable price.



This vest is under $20, if you can believe it! You can view more of these amazing and cheap looks here!

PUT YOUR PAWS UP, DETROIT

The lights go out, and the screams soar high into the rafters in the Palace Of Auburn Hills, located just outside of Detroit, Michigan. Myself (Justin), Jessica, and fellow Little Monster Kyle are in the second row, staring at the large, white screen that now covers the stage. Low, rumbling music begins as the images are projected on the screen. "Im a free bitch, baby" is all you can hear Mother Monster saying as her images move and transform across the screen. The background music is a mash up of her stellar song, "Dance In The Dark", and the 80's hit "Finally" by Ce Ce Peniston. After this amazing light, sound, and video spectacle goes on for about 3 minutes, the curtain lifts, and there she is standing in front of a purple light. If possible, the audience of 25,000 screams even louder than before.

Whether you are a Little Monster or not, you must admit that Lady Gaga represents a kind of genius that does not exist today. She gives more love to her fans than any legend before her. In a matter of two years, almost to the date, Lady Gaga has become just that, a legend. This a status that takes most artists 20 + years to achieve. If you have ever seen Gaga in concert, you understand why she is as successful as she is.

While this was not our first time seeing Lady Gaga in concert, it was by far the best, which is hard to fathom because the previous show we attended blew us away. This time, it was different. She is even more seasoned than before. She is....Gaga. That is the only word that can possibly describe how truly amazing, inspiring, and creative she is. Its in the way she personalized the show. From yelling about churches on 8 mile, to talking about "detroit unicorn sluts", Lady Gaga made us all feel like she is a native detroiter, and she made us feel like we were her friends.

From Just Dance, to Poker Face, to Paparazzi, to Love Game, to the closing of the show with Bad Romance, she gave us every single one of her hits. She also gave us the songs that were not played on the radio, like Beautiful Dirty Rich, Monster, Teeth, and the "gay anthem" Boys Boys Boys. Every moment she had the entire arena on their feet. And, when it was time to slow it down a little, she took everyones breath away. She first hit us with the haunting tune Speechless, which she dedicated to a fan she had met earlier in the day, and then gave us a song from her upcoming album called You and I, which is officially my favorite Gaga song.

Not only was the show jam packed with her amazing music, but we got to see a show like you would not even believe. From performing Love Game mostly inside of a subway car, to playing the electric keyboard for Just Dance inside of a car. During Monster she was "attacked" by her dancers, disappeared, and then got shot out 10 feet into the air from underneath the stage, hit the ground IN HEELS, and got right back into the choreography.

I have seen a lot of shows, but this one takes the cake for being the most amazing. Even after attending the Home to Home tour in Detroit the night before (a show that stars Jay Z and Eminem, but boasts an abundant of celebrity guests), I still have to say Gaga's show was the best. She is a fierce, badass, free bitch, and we both love her.

The only girl in the world is Rihanna

Ri Ri takes it to the club with her house meets pop sounding song! This brand new song premiered this morning on the Ryan Seacrest radio show. Take a listen to "Only Girl (In the World)" below. Tell us your thoughts!

The sun is still shining at Bathingsuits.net

As summer comes to a dramatic close, you are beginning to trade in your tank tops for sweaters and flip flops for boots. But don’t let the lack of sun and warmth get you down. Bathingsuits.net has a great offer to give you a smile so bright you would think it was still 90 degrees out!

Bathinsuits.net has marked down the prices of merchandise for an end of the summer sale. You may be thinking, “Dude! Snow is about to come!” Don’t worry about that. With these deals, you can gear up for next year super early! This website carries bathing suits and boardshorts from brands like Roxy, Volcom, Billabong and Liquid Force at 20-7% off. You can’t pass up these great prices!

Bathinsuits.net also offers accessories like towels, shoes and sandals and sunglasses, along with free shipping on every order. Of course, you may live on the West Coast where it’s warmer a lot longer and you need a cute little something to hang out with your gal pals in. Bathinsuits.net has got you covered!


--Jessica