Golden State of Bliss

The L.A. Times has an interesting blog full of reported snippets from this week's historic gay marrying in California, my favorite of which might be this tale of the first gay couple to be married in the great military town of San Diego:

[Bob] Lehman, a former Marine, and [Tom] Felkner were married by Lehman's brother, Jeff, a retired Marine.

"I'm a Marine. I like to do things first," said Bob Lehman.

Link via Tony Pierce.

Comments

[joe]

Give a whole new meaning to "Semper Fidelis."

[Art-P.O.G.]

Ah, yeah! Not a single "Real Jock" banner!

But, seriously,

, it's just not normal," said the protester, Dennis Agajanian, a member of Bikers for Christ.

A "Biker for Christ" commenting on societal norms?

[Art-P.O.G.]

Good one, joe.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Dude, you're not a Marine anymore...you can change your haircut...

[Mr. Nice Guy]

"A "Biker for Christ" commenting on societal norms?"
LOL

[Mr. Nice Guy]

I've always tought laws aimed at gays made and as much sense as laws aimed at people who engage in different sexual positions...Wait a minute, we had that too and conservatives went ape-shit when they were struck down!

[YMNGH]

I have long been out of the Air Force but I still keep my hair short. I like not having to do anything to my hair in the morning. Just dry it after a shower and I am done. I don't have to waist money on hair jells or anything like that.

[Bob Lehman]

Dude, you're not a Marine anymore...you can change your haircut...

Once a Marine, always a Marine, boy!

Although I wouldn't expect any of you lily-livered hetros to understand that...

[SugarFree]

"You will give your rifle a BOY'S NAME!"

"Aww, Sarge... do we hafta?"

[*barf*]

*barf*

[SugarFree]

"I'm a Marine. I like to do things first," said Bob Lehman.

Well, this at least explains why neither of them are wearing white.

[Episiarch]

Don't forget that George Takei got married too.

[Reinmoose the Southern Conserv]

we had that too and conservatives went ape-shit when they were struck down!

I don't know about you, but I ain't come from no monkey!

[Art-P.O.G.]

Don't forget that George Takei got married too.

Walter Koenig as best man and Nichelle Nichols as matron of honor!? Gib mir karte!

[SugarFree]

The Takei wedding had a disappointing lack of shirtless sword fighting, though.

Of course, maybe that was saved for the honeymoon...

[Elemenope]

Don't forget that George Takei got married too.

Yeah, saw his quote in Time. Hey, if you can't escape the long, dark career-destroying shadow of Star Trek, you might as well give it a tight, warm hug.

[Art-P.O.G.]

This is cold, bruh. You gotta invite "The Shat"!

[Art-P.O.G.]

I guess Takei was afraid Shatner would start chewing up scenery at his wedding.

[Episiarch]

Can anyone recall the joke from the Shatner Roast that went something like "Shatner is such a huge asshole that George..."

I can't remember it and it was great.

[SugarFree]

They should have had Shat perform the ceremony in Esperanto.

[Monty]

Mr Man: I was just wondering whether it would be possible for me to join... the women's army?

R.S.M.: The Women's Royal Army Corps, sir?

Mr Man: Yes. I was just thinking, you know, if it was possible for me to have my choice ... I'd prefer to be in the Women's Royal Amy Corps.

R.S.M.: Well, I'm afraid that the people that recruit here normally go straight into the Scots Guards.

Mr Man: Which is all... men... I suppose?

R.S.M.: Yes it is.

Mr Man: Yes. Are there any regiments which are more effeminate than others?

R.S.M.: Well, no sir. I mean, apart from the Marines, they're all dead butch.

[Nick M]

They really don't seem to be enjoying that kiss.

[YMNGH]

"Yeah, saw his quote in Time. Hey, if you can't escape the long, dark career-destroying shadow of Star Trek, you might as well give it a tight, warm hug"

Start Trek was a path breaking show. It was very well written (except for the last season) and technically sophisticated for the time. I also like all of the spin offs except for Voyager. Also, I don't think that Boston Legal would have William Shatner if it were not for Star Trek.

[Episiarch]

Found it.

To Takei, about Jeffrey Ross: "Jeff is such a huge asshole you won't have to spit on your dick first."

I couldn't find that quote anywhere, except...parentstv.org.

Now that's funny.

[Abdul]

There is something horribly, horribly wrong about this.

Since when can retired Marines perform wedding ceremonies? How are ministers and justices of the peace going to get any work?

[TallDave]

Heh, that's just like a MArine.

God bless the USMC.

[lunchstealer]

I think this news cycle is going to get me over my squickiness about seeing dudes kissing. It's weird that various gay parades and so forth have gotten me completely inured to dudes in thongs and all sorts of other stuff, but for whatever reason the kissing thing still gets a reaction.

Except that scene between Captain Jack and Captain John. That was just awesome.

[Bingo]

Next stop: gay divorces, gay custody battles, gay child support payments

Ah, marriage is so beautiful.

[Elemenope]

Star Trek was a path breaking show. It was very well written (except for the last season) and technically sophisticated for the time. I also like all of the spin offs except for Voyager. Also, I don't think that Boston Legal would have William Shatner if it were not for Star Trek.

All true. And yet...tell me, besides the dead ones, where are all the other cast members, career-wise?

For that matter, until Shatner was rescued for Boston Legal Wasn't he rotting in Rescue 911-land?

[YMNGH]

"Since when can retired Marines perform wedding ceremonies? How are ministers and justices of the peace going to get any work?"

Ever hear of the ULC?

http://www.themonastery.org/

[Mister DNA]

I guess tomorrow there will be some blog entries reflecting the thousands of heterosexual marriages that have been ruined by yesterday's nuptials.

[YMNGH]

"All true. And yet...tell me, besides the dead ones, where are all the other cast members, career-wise?"

With any famous enough program there is a danger of type-casting. One way around it is to SELL your typecast as a plus and find a niche archetype that you play well. I think that this is what got Rob Morrow onto Numbers. On Numbers he plays a character who is intelligent, somewhat arrogant and socially inept. On Northern Exposure he plays a character who is intelligent, somewhat arrogant and socially inept. As for Shatner, the character he plays on Boston Legal is like the persona he invented for himself for when he goes to Star Trek conventions.

[Reinmoose]

I guess tomorrow there will be some blog entries reflecting the thousands of heterosexual marriages that have been ruined by yesterday's nuptials.

haha! Well observed

[YMNGH]

"I guess tomorrow there will be some blog entries reflecting the thousands of heterosexual marriages that have been ruined by yesterday's nuptials."

A great question to ask people who say gay marriage somehow destroys marriage is "If a gay couple near you got married would you love your wife (or husband) any less?"

[Art-P.O.G.]

"If a gay couple near you got married would you love your wife (or husband) any less?"

I'm not married, but I could see how it would. "Keeping up with the Joneses" and all, my wife and I would have to get a gay marriage, too.

[R C Dean]

Once a Marine, always a Marine, boy!

Just trying calling one an "ex-Marine" to his face.

I suggest standing out of reach, though.

[Reinmoose the Southern Conserv]

Now straight people won't get married - I mean, why bother? Next they'll want to marry there dawg!

[JW]

Just trying calling one an "ex-Marine" to his face.

How about a "recovering Marine?"

/ducks

[Art-P.O.G.]

Just trying calling one an "ex-Marine" to his face.Totally a running gag in the Army!

[joe]

The argument about "destroying marriage" isn't that people currently married will break up, but that, in the future, people who would have gotten married will not.

I have no idea how making marriage more common, and reducing the prominence of the cruising bachelor as a model for how to live your life, is supposed to accomplish this, though.

I strongly suspect that the argument doesn't actually make any sense.

[Episiarch]

With any famous enough program there is a danger of type-casting. One way around it is to SELL your typecast as a plus and find a niche archetype that you play well.

This is somewhat true. Chris Walken definitely falls into this category.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Or, the missus and I could say that our marriage was also "gay" in addition to being heterosexual. Take that, gays!

[ed]

From the holes of Montezuma
To the balls of Tripoli;
We will fight Defense of Marriage Act
So all gay men can be free.

[Gimme Back My Dog]

Takei's career is hotter now than it has ever been. Announcer for the Howard Stern Show and on the cast of Heroes.

The best line from the Shatner roast came from Jeffrey Ross: "What a coincidence, we are here to roast Shatner and Betty White just shat-'n-'er pants"

[joe]

Does anyone else remember the National Review article about the danger of gay marriage and the need to maintain strong taboos against homosexuality in general?

The author's thesis was - I swear to God I'm not making this up - that sex with men is so much better than sex with women that OF COURSE men would choose to be gay, unless there was some strong countervailing force to dissuage them. So much so that it would put our society in danger of not producing enough children to carry on.

I swear on all that is holy I'm not making this up.

[Art-P.O.G.]

I swear on all that is holy I'm not making this up.

I...wow that author would seem to have some issues.

[Pro Libertate]

Sulu's gay?

[YMNGH]

"I...wow that author would seem to have some issues."

Yea, like maybe he is a repressed gay. How else would he know???

[buttsexman]

Beautiful ... now WE get to bitch about all the bitches that sleep around on married men that are looking for bigger dicks!

[Reinmoose the Southern Conserv]

that sex with men is so much better than sex with women that OF COURSE men would choose to be gay, unless there was some strong countervailing force to dissuage them.

This is the truth! Err.. I mean... so I hear

[JW]

Sulu's gay?

He seems very happy in all the pictures that I've seen.

[Episiarch]

More Ross from the roast:

"What the fuck is on your head right now? Hang up the hairpiece. Or at least set it free in the park before Andy Dick tries to fuck it...Andy Dick's sole mission in life is to give AIDS back to the monkeys."

[Elemenope]

Doesn't ARMY simply stand for "Ain't Ready for the Marines Yet"?

[Pro Libertate]

Reinmoose is gay?

[dhex]

So much so that it would put our society in danger of not producing enough children to carry on.

the author may not be some kind of barely-repressed gay man; he may just have been high as hell!

[Reinmoose]

Hey! That was Reinmoose the Southern Conservative

[Mister DNA]

I strongly suspect that the argument doesn't actually make any sense.

One of the blog entries from Matt's link:

"Let the people of Bakersfield see the disgusting results of them getting married. Men kissing men. Ewww,'' she said. "Then everyone will make up their minds on what they want to do about it.''

I think that sums up their arguments rather succinctly: "Ewww". On the rare occasions I look at the wedding notices in our local Sunday paper, I'm generally confronted with pictures of a bunch of fat cows squeezed into bridal gowns. The thought of these heifers having sex and ultimately reproducing is repulsive, but I'm not about to oppose obese marriage on the basis that I find it disgusting.

I especially like how the Bakersfield anti-gay marriage groups is named "Bakersfield Citizens Opposed to Obscenity and Lewdness". Get it? BCOOL.

[Pro Libertate]

Reinmoose is a starship helmsman?

[Art-P.O.G.]

Doesn't ARMY simply stand for "Ain't Ready for the Marines Yet"?

That's why Marines join the Army in droves after their initial enlistment or halfway through their careers. No, the Army is for people that care about technical training and people who are too retarded for the Air Force. The Marine Corps is for people who think they're John Wayne.

[Reinmoose]

Mr. DNA -
Didn't we find out yesterday that fat people have sex? Just like Old people? And that fat people also eat?
Ewww. I'm squirming in my chair just thinking about it all

[Miller]

John Wayne was a fag.

[Sam Grove]

A question out of curiousity:

OK, hetero guys are turned off by male to male action, turned on by female to female action.

Do women have the converse reaction?
Are hetero women turned on by male/male action?
How do they react to fem/fem action?
If not, why the diff?

[Mister DNA]

Reinmoose,

I've read elsewhere that young people are having sex, too. Hasn't anyone thought of telling these kids to abstain from sex until they're married, fat and old?

[Art-P.O.G.]

Are hetero women turned on by male/male action?

One time I heard a woman make an offhand comment that hinted that she was, but at the same time I think this interest is fairly rare.

[Reinmoose]

OH - along these same lines, there was a study a few years ago that just blew my mind!
It went something like this:
"Losing weight improves sex life, study says"

No joke!

[troy]

"I'm a Marine. I like to do things first," said Bob Lehman"

God this is why I love marines. First on the beach and first in the hole....so to speak.

[Tonio]

"They really don't seem to be enjoying that kiss."

Well, I've been to lots of straight weddings and the post-nup kiss is often either perfunctory, or over-acted.

Really, the couple has just made a major life change, gone through the stress of wedding planning, and are then expected to kiss passionately and publicly.

The above applies to all couples, but this couple has the added burden of not knowing whether their marriage will be valid after November.

[Episiarch]

I especially like how the Bakersfield anti-gay marriage groups is named "Bakersfield Citizens Opposed to Obscenity and Lewdness". Get it? BCOOL.

Well, we're through being cool, right? It's time to be stiff instead.

[JW]

OK, hetero guys are turned off by male to male action, turned on by female to female action.

Do women have the converse reaction?
Are hetero women turned on by male/male action?
How do they react to fem/fem action?
If not, why the diff?

Most women that I know aren't too thrilled with swordfights (some are), but few bail out at the thought of hot girl-girl action. I know several very straight women who swear they would go lesbo for certain actresses.

It's what we men call win-win.

[Reinmoose]

I know a girl who would always try to get guys to kiss by offering that she'd kiss a girl in front of them. I don't think she ever got taken up on that offer.

[Ironic]

"A question out of curiosity:

OK, hetero guys are turned off by male to male action, turned on by female to female action.

Do women have the converse reaction?
Are hetero women turned on by male/male action?
How do they react to fem/fem action?
If not, why the diff?"

Simple answer: evolution. From the perspective of passing genes onto the next generation, there is an advantage to a man having intimate relations with more than one woman. More than one woman can be pregnant by the same man at the same time. Not true for women. A woman can only be pregnant once at a time. There is no genetic advantage to a woman having intimate relations with more than one man at the same time (though it happens).

[Mister DNA]

Well, we're through being cool, right? It's time to be stiff instead.

Ah, that's why I love this blog.

[troy]

I hope these marriages survive November.

I can't wait to see the conniption fit when a California couple moves to backwater Alabama or Mississippi and decides to to get a divorce.

Congratulations fella's.

[joe]

Miller,

The hell he was!

[Episiarch]

Ah, that's why I love this blog.

The disturbing thing is that I think you're the only one who gets it. Jamie would get it.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Dammit, Episiarch, you know so many more cultural references than me (and I know a lot), you're giving me an inferiority complex! 😉

[JW]

Epi--We ALL get it, just becasue we don't comment on it.... And, Be Stiff is in my head now. Thx again.

C'mon now, Goodfellas? Devo? Not too esoteric as pop culture references go. Which is fine by me.

[JW]

I know a girl who would always try to get guys to kiss by offering that she'd kiss a girl in front of them.

Dear god, why would any sober dude take her up on that? Thats what the interwebs are for: watching drunk college girls do stupid things in various stages of undress.

[Elliot Spitzer]

Dear god, why would any sober dude take her up on that? Thats what the interwebs are for: watching drunk college girls do stupid things in various stages of undress.

I wish I had learned that sooner...

[Episiarch]

We ALL get it, just becasue (sic) we don't comment on it

And now you have commented on it.

[Mister DNA]

The disturbing thing is that I think you're the only one who gets it. Jamie would get it.

The other day I posted a comment at In Cold Blog (it's a True Crime blog featuring a lot of relatively big names in True Crime) and because my opinion was contrary to that of the post's author, the editor of the blog posted an idiotic response which addressed nothing in my comments, but instead attacked me for my "ridiculous internet moniker". The editor of the blog used to be involved with the National Lampoon website in some capacity, so not only did I lose a lot of respect for In Cold Blog, it made me mourn the days when National Lampoon used to be relevant.

[JW]

Do women have the converse reaction?
Are hetero women turned on by male/male action?

Actually, I just remembered this bi girl I briefly dated in college (who was sleeping with another friend of mine. You gotta love Theater majors.).

She was so into this new-found thing that she wanted me to try it with a dude. My reaction was "No really, I'm thrilled for you. Really I am. It's OK if I don't. Really."

And let it be known for the record that I am the only guy that had a bi girlfriend and never closed the deal, if you now what I mean. **wink-wink** Yes, I'm so big an idiot that I screwed up the relationship *before* that happened.

[JW]

And now you have commented on it.

Damnit! You win again, my sly friend, but soon the worm will turn.

[Miller]

He was, too, you boys. I installed two-way mirrors in his pad in Brentwood, and he come to the door in a dress.

[Episiarch]

And let it be known for the record that I am the only guy that had a bi girlfriend and never closed the deal, if you now what I mean. **wink-wink** Yes, I'm so big an idiot that I screwed up the relationship *before* that happened.

Where you made your mistake was with the "relationship" part. If you don't have one, you can't screw it up.

[JW]

Miller--You'll find one in every car. You'll see.

I hope these marriages survive November.

It will be interesting to see how California's large, socially conservative Hispanic population votes on the gay marriage amendment. Nothing like seeing the More-Tolerant-Than-Thou set getting hoisted by their own petard!

[brotherben]

Art-P.O.G. | June 19, 2008, 11:26am | #

Just trying calling one an "ex-Marine" to his face.Totally a ""running gag""" in the Army!

Isn't "running gag" in the "Gay Kama Sutra?"

[NotThatDavid]

Except that scene between Captain Jack and Captain John. That was just awesome.

Wait, you've watched a full season of Torchwood (maybe two, I'm not sure how much has aired in the US), and you haven't seen enough shots of guys kissing to inoculate you? I'm not sure how much more one news cycle is going to help.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Isn't "running gag" in the "Gay Kama Sutra?"

See. It's a trap. If I make a comment one way or the other, you make me admit I've read the "Gay Kama Sutra". Damn! They might do that shit in the Navy!

[Steve Verdon]

Don't forget that George Takei got married too.

Not yet, September of this year.

[Chris Potter]

Matt, next time, you should give an NSFW warning for those kinds of pictures. Some of us are employed by the Catholic Church.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Chris, I'm assuming your 12:58 post is facetious? 😉

[Danny]

Don't forget that George Takei got married too.

Not yet, September of this year.

I just read that they got their marriage license, but their ceremony is in September. I was confused by all of this, too.

[Loupeznik]

I always said I would kiss a man to get out of the Marine Corps....

Why bother once you're out????

[Art-P.O.G.]

Why bother once you're out????

lol 😀

[Chris Potter]

Art-POG,

All will be revealed on Judgement Day...

[Rhywun]

The Takei wedding had a disappointing lack of shirtless sword fighting, though.

I *loved* that scene when I was a kid. I wonder why...

Simple answer: evolution.

I also believe this is same explanation for why almost all the gay men I know (including myself) have older brothers. (I have three.) It's as if god/nature/FSM has no use for another baby-making machine.

[Rhywun]

Does anyone else remember the National Review article about the danger of gay marriage and the need to maintain strong taboos against homosexuality in general?

I remember many such articles, but not the one in question. If you find a link, PLEASE share.

sex with men is so much better than sex with women

Well, no argument here.

[SugarFree]

Well, no argument here.

Talk about confirmation bias...

[R C Dean]

Actually, I just remembered this bi girl I briefly dated in college (who was sleeping with another friend of mine. You gotta love Theater majors.).

And, apparently, they've gotta love you. And you. And you, over there.

[Episiarch]

It's as if god/nature/FSM has no use for another baby-making machine.

You're still a baby-making machine, dude. It's just that you don't inject the baby-juice into someone who can do something with it.

[SugarFree]

It's just that you don't inject the baby-juice into someone who can do something with it.

Maybe he's a bottom, huh? Jesus, try not to be so ignorant all the time!

[joe]

Aw, come on, Miller. That don't mean he's a fag. Lots of guys like to watch their buddies fuck. I know I do.

[SugarFree]

Yikes!

[Episiarch]

It's been a long time since I saw Repo Man. I think I need a refresher, along with Liquid Sky.

[joe]

Episiarch, you said you had something important to tell me!

[Rhywun]

You're still a baby-making machine, dude.

Well sure, but lacking any attraction to women means I won't be making any - not with my knowledge, anyway.

[Steve Verdon]

I just read that they got their marriage license, but their ceremony is in September. I was confused by all of this, too.

I'm not sure if that means they are married. They have 90 days, IIRC, to get married. After that the license is void.

[Chris Potter]

Steve,

Early September is less than 90 days away...

[cwb]

To the person who said "barf, barf". Rarely have I seen someone articulate their politics so articulately. In one word you described your views and your logic. Brilliant.

George Takei did not marry, he got his marriage license with the marriage planned for the Fall.

As for Torchwood -- two seasons in the UK, two seasons in the US. Loved the show so much that after watching the first part of season one in the UK, I was in Berlin and arranged to watch it via my computer using a friends cable television in the UK. Then watched season two in the US and can't wait for season three. Captain Jack and Captian John were rather intense but that was a love/hate relationship. So where will things go with Ianto? Well, we know where they went but where to from here?

[Michelle Gray]

Mr. DNA,

I see you're still running around the Net complaining and trying to instigate a troll on In Cold Blog using other blogs and your "poor me, I'm such a victim," stance. What exactly is your point of posting that comment here? Do you always have a habit of posting off topic remarks on people's blogs?

You were rude, just like now, and you were castigated accordingly. In fact, if I remember right it was your continued BS that caused me shut down the comments for the first time since I've been the blog's administrator.

It's interesting that In Cold Blog has about 20 contributors, which include guests, and many are well regarded and well known personalities. You, being the consumate intellect that you clearly are, feel that based on being spanked by the blog's administrator (me) for your rude, condescending, argumentative, antagonistic and deliberately nasty commentary that people who write there, such as Erin Moriarty from CBS' 48-Hours, don't deserve respect? That the entire blog is no longer worthy of any readers becasue YOU had your feathers ruffled, and by a girl no less?

Not to mention slamming the entire National Lampoon entertainment company because you don't like me, after all I spanked you. By the way, genius, I didn't "used to be involved" with Lampoon, I still am involved with Lampoon. http://tinyurl.com/6p2zru

Why don't you grow up and quit running around the Net acting like a cry baby because someone calls you on your rude and childish behavior. How about you stay away from the daytime SOAP operas and act like a man. Not everyone will agree with you and when you're rude some people will get in your face about it. The door on freedom of speech swings both ways. You got hit in the butt with it, now quit your whinning!

Michelle Gray
Editor, In Cold Blog
http://incodlblogger.blogspot.com

Mister DNA | June 19, 2008, 12:23pm | #

"The disturbing thing is that I think you're the only one who gets it. Jamie would get it.
The other day I posted a comment at In Cold Blog (it's a True Crime blog featuring a lot of relatively big names in True Crime) and because my opinion was contrary to that of the post's author, the editor of the blog posted an idiotic response which addressed nothing in my comments, but instead attacked me for my "ridiculous internet moniker". The editor of the blog used to be involved with the National Lampoon website in some capacity, so not only did I lose a lot of respect for In Cold Blog, it made me mourn the days when National Lampoon used to be relevant."

[The Reverend Terence Fforbmby-]

I wonder why the Catholic church opposes same-sex marriage.

[Rhywun]

So where will things go with Ianto?

I suspect he'll remain Jack's fuck-buddy while exhibiting one or two new personalities in addition to the several on display last year - but if we're lucky the "wacky jokester" personality will not make any further appearance.

[dhex]

It's interesting that In Cold Blog has about 20 contributors, which include guests, and many are well regarded and well known personalities.

lady, there's nothing even remotely interesting about your staffing.

[The Real Bill]

Burn!

(It's funny cuz it's true.)

[Steve Verdon]

Chris Potter,

However, from the California Department of Health Services,

Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. If you do not get married within 90 days, the license will no longer be valid. You must purchase a new license.--bold added

In short, Takei and Altman have a license, they are not married yet. A marriage license is necessary, but not sufficient for a couple to be married. A marriage must be solemnized by a person meeting the necessary criteria.

[wedding dress]

simple wedding dresses from http://geebird.com/simple-wedd.....c-150.html

beach wedding dresses from http://geebird.com/beach-weddi.....c-152.html