Peterson Toscano's A Musing

I spent the weekend in Grand Junction in Western Colorado (near the Utah boarder) where I performed Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House and met loads of wonderful people. The two cool fun people are Beth and Jeremy who to me to the Colorado National Monument for a little hiking. Mandy and Marty, a super couple who are lesbian and Christian organized the event. At breakfast on Sunday morning, Marty's nine year old son, Austin asked me, "Peterson who is your partner?" I replied that I don't have one. He turned to his mother with a confused look on his face, "I thought you said that Peterson is gay." Turns out of all the gays and lesbians that Austin knows, they all are in committed partnerships. He had no concept of a queer person who was NOT in a relationship. Hmmm, perhaps he should inform some national ex-gay leaders about this. (click on photos for larger view)

In which Marvin shares with his pastor a desire to work with children in the church. Marvin also responds to Joe G's question, "Is Brother Juan Gonzales gay?" Perhaps you have some suggestions of where Marvin can minister in his church.

In which Marvin recounts a wonderful time he had at church learning how to cut out his eye and chop off his hand. Then he bonds with Soon (and the world) in the produce asile at his local supermarket.

Considering the words of Exodus Youth Staffer Michael Ensley in a recent newsletter, Ex-Gay Watch blogger, David Roberts skillfully draws the distinction between same-sex attraction and a promiscuious lifestyle. I've noticed that what ex-gays often call “the gay lifestyle” could really apply to anyone, gay or straight. It is a life of excess, substance abuse and sexual addiction. You don't have to be gay to make lousy choices in life, though I can see where having one's very existence challenged as evil and sinful could lead to a less than healthy response. Read the expertly presented analysis Homosexuality Isn't Really the Problem Here .

Wonderful weekend in Middle Tennessee for a show (and I got to visit a friend to attended LIA with me.) The Cookeville performance went VERY well with an amazingly diverse crowd that went from high school students to eldery Quakers with plenty of genderqueer radical faeries, middle-aged lefties, college students and straight couples in the mix. I was hosted by Diana and Annie at the Hidden Springs Orchards . They run the Hidden Springs Nursery , that provide organic, pest-resistant specialty fruit trees. Needless to say I had the freshest organic produce possible, amazing blueberry jam and wine AND something I have always wanted to try--Acorn bread. (Acorns are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet and take FOREVER to peel, leech and prepare , but hmm, very good. I also met some amazing people including Miriam and Indigo, a lesbian couple from Bristol, England who are in the states for a few months to learn about organic farming. Loads of fun! Oh! and I got to see the divi...

Germantown Baptist Church , a long time supporter of Love in Action (LIA), is experiencing internal strife that could potentially lead to a church split or a loss of a chunk of its 11,000 plus members. According the the Commercial Appeal , An apparent power struggle at Germantown Baptist Church is causing strife between senior pastor Sam Shaw and a significant segment of his congregation. The main issue is a proposal to change the church bylaws, putting key decision-making in the hands of a small group of elders rather than continuing a tradition of the membership making decisions. A new group of elders would supplant decision-making authority of the current church board and deacons. Members opposed to the changes say 1,200 church members met last week to discuss the proposals. And a Web site has been created to lobby against the change in governance. The opposition may continue to grow leading to a crisis or Germantown may work out the issue without much loss or by ridding themselve...

Owen Egerton at Killing the Buddha tackles the question, What happens when you realize you're just not that into him? I'm often angry. I'd given him the best years of my life. Turned down college parties for Bible studies, passed on spring break flings just to make him happy. Memorized his words. Voted for his candidates. Other times I miss him so much my chest hurts. It had been love, after all. Not puppy love, but passionate life-changing love. Late night prayers, sharing every thought, every feeling. Trusting him with my life. For over ten years nothing, nothing at all, was more important to me. Now that it's ended, the void feels nearly as encompassing as the presence once had. After years of praying "in Jesus' name" I now find myself not knowing how to pray. What do I call God? How do I connect? I had come to define myself by this relationship. Now that I'm alone, who am I? Read more of Jesus and I Broke Up Hat tip to Christine . She is my Intern...

In which Marvin, presenting like a cross between Chris Matthews and Barbara Walters , asks Peterson the tough questions. Marvin tried the interview format once before, (the cousin Leonard debacle ). This time he is prepared and in charge.

Marvin posted an audio blog this morning. I didn't want you to miss it. Check out Marvin Has Two Mommies!

Jen Austin recently spent a day of her lesbian life at an ex-gay conference in Burleson, TX. She wrote about her experience for the Dallas Voice A one-day conference, titled “Living Hope, Lasting Change: A Redemptive Response to the Issue of Homosexuality,” was held on March 4 at Alsbury Baptist Church in Burleson. The 100 or so Christians (most of them white) sought answers to questions like: “Does God love homosexuals?” “What if I like boys and girls?” and “Are people born gay, or is it a choice?” After paying $20, I sat in the back row and quietly took notes. Throughout the workshop, it seemed like attendees agreed with whatever Chelette said. He depicted homosexuality as “demonic” work — that the trend of queer acceptance is linked to a general rise of immorality in modern culture. Read Austin full account in The Ex-Gay Factor and The Ex-Gay Factor Follow-Up Hat tip to Tanya Jonker-Bryce at Lesbian Life .

My dad, Pete Toscano is a real talker. (Actually his name is Peter, which makes me Peter's son, but everyone just calls him Pete). He gets cooler with age. Not only does he supply the neighborhood with bread and doughnuts , but as a U.S. Marine War veteran, he stands opposed to the War in Iraq. Recently I gave him Joel Andreas' Addicted to War comic book. When he was about halfway through he said to me, "It's a real good book and true. But I can only read a little at a time; it gets me real mad." On the front porch of the family home he has three flags--The US, Mexican and Canadian flags. One of his Marine buddies chidded him, "Pete, whaddya got those other flags for?" My father shot back, "Hey, they're our neighbors!" A long time Republican, my father disagrees strongly with Bush "It's not right what he's dong. He's messing up this country." Perhaps one of the most poignant things my father ever said to me was when ...

In which Marvin speaks of his mothers attempts to connect Marvin with his roots.

As a queer performance artist, I receive so much support and nourishment from the community where I live--Hartford, CT. Besides some wonderful friends and the Hartford Friends Meeting , I find that Hartford also provides me a place to rest, relax and reconnect. (plus Real Art Ways , The Connecticut Forum , True Colors AND East West Grill ) I feel it is so important to give back to the communities where we live. As a white queer man, I find it important to support local LGBT concerns and especially to reach out beyond my own needs to connect with non-LGBT folks who experience oppression and need in Hartford. This year I seek to support the amazing work of ConnectiKids , "an independent, non-profit youth development agency whose mission is to connect Hartford children and youth to their potential by building relationships and providing educational opportunities." ConnectiKids provides tutoring and mentoring services for elementary students, an arts and enrichment program , a...

According to the Catholic Information Service for Africa, Pro-Gay Church to Start Missions in Kenya And Uganda . The church community of St Sebastian, based in the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of southern Morocco, announced the establishment of its first fellowships in mainland Africa last weekend. "In recent weeks we have been blessed with the opportunity to extend our ministry throughout Africa, and especially in Kenya and Uganda," Rev Paul Gibson told Afrol News. Preparations to offer religious services in the two East African countries are at an advanced stage, he said. Rev Gibson said establishing missions in Kenya and Uganda "is only the beginning of a new, fully inclusive church that will grow in strength and statue, whilst also becoming a voice for Christians who have been marginalized by an out-of-date system of administration." It's been a year since I presented Queer 101 in Yaounde, Cameroon, which like most African nations deems same-gender ...

Jim Johnson over at Straight, Not Narrow reports on Republicans Making Anti-Gay Pitch to African-Americans while raising some important questions (that he also answers). At a time when the United States is spending billions of dollars fighting a war on foreign soil; while this nation is still extremely vulnerable to terrorism; when there are millions of people faced with poverty, homelessness, unemployment, hunger; when there are millions of people who do not have access to medical treatment they desperately need; when there are millions of people living within our borders illegally; WHY ARE POLITICIANS AND EVANGELISTS PUSHING THOSE ISSUES ASIDE AND ATTACKING THE GAYS? And Jim Maynard, a Memphis gay blogger at the very pink Queer Notes who often considers political issues, writes about GOP Election Plan: Flag-Burning, Gay Marriage Amendments . Here they go again! USA Today reports that Senate Republicans are laying out their election plan and, surprise!, it will be to push for the a...

Gee you can find anything on the Internet. MissPoppy.com sells the Instant Gay Accent Mouthspray . The product description boasts, Flunked out of an ex-gay ministry? Get your accent back with "Instant Gay Accent Mouthspray" in peppermint. Hmmm, I wonder if they have a lesbian or bisexual version and what in the world would a "trans accent" be? And what about a Black gay accent? If they considered the entire community, they could have scores of versions of this stuff! Hat tip to Jeffrey Johnson

The ever elusive and sometimes reclusive cartoon artist, Bruce Garrett made a rare early April public appearance last Monday. Seen here emerging from the remnants of the famed College Park Forest, Garrett did not see his own shadow, therefore we have nearly two more years of Bush in office AND global warming. Thanks a lot, Bruce! To commiserate, we ate Chinese dumplings and cruised comic book stores in hopes of picking up a superhero or two.

I'm in my parents' home right now watching The Passion of the Christ with them. (I'd prefer Comedy Central ). As Mel Gibson beats the snot out of Jesus, I have turned to my trusty friend, the Internet and learned about an interesting new film that is in the works--The Color of the Cross--a Hollywood Jesus film with a Black Jesus (and Mary). From the film's wbsite -- “Color of the Cross,” an independent, biblically charged religious biopic, based on the last 48 hours of Christ’s life, stands to be the most controversial depiction of Jesus to date. The film is unique in two distinct ways: The first dramatic film in Hollywood history ever to depict Christ as a black man. Secondly, it is the first Christian based film to inject race as a possible factor in the Crucifixion of Christ. This racial perspective to the conventional biblical story is sure to challenge Conservative Christian beliefs. The film places racial issues front and center in this growing religious discours...

A friend of mine just created the coolest blog-- The Poet Speaks With A Thousand Voices To share a poem with the world, please call 415-856-0205.... when prompted for your phone number, enter 111-637-5524.... when prompted for your PIN, enter 7777.... Please say the title and the name of the poet, then read the poem in your own voice.... then go about the rest of your day or night knowing that you've done your part to enrich the world.

In which Marvin speaks to his mentor, Brother Juan Gonzales, about Soon and her struggles as a lesbian.