HBO's Looking: Now That It's Gone

It's been quite some time since Looking wrapped up its second season, and it's no news that the series has been canceled. The show was far from the greatest, but I can't help but feel a slight emptiness now that it is gone. There was just something so great about it. The fact that a show such as this existed was enough to keep me watching week after week, regardless of how I felt about certain plot points.

To Cosplay, or Not to Cosplay?

I've been thinking about cosplay for a while. A couple of years, in fact. I've always been fascinated by it, as it serves as one of the greatest ways to honor something you love. Cosplayers are inspiring, and the community itself is one of warmth, love, diversity, and acceptance. People from all manner of backgrounds come together to celebrate their mutual love of the art form. Whether it's comic books, sci-fi, anime, or cartoons. Cosplayers are always there to represent.

With so much love for cosplay, how could I not want to join in on the fun? And so...

I have a list of top contenders, and Korra is definitely on there. Her outfit, seen here in Book 4 of the series, was one of my absolute favorites on the show. She was always dressed as if ready for battle, which is part of what I loved about her character. Her style is comfortable and highly flexible to any situation. And those boots! I have a thing about boots. I could wear them all day, every day. Slap on those arm guards and I would look pretty damn cool, if I do say so myself.

So who knows when I'll actually finish putting this together, but I'm adding it to my list of things to do. Woot!

Throwback: Kingdoms of Amalur

Whenever I get bored of today's video games, I jump back to one of my favorites. This time, it's Kingdoms of Amalur, one of the best RPG games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. Why this game never got the recognition it deserved is a crime in itself. From the moment I started playing a few years back, I knew I had stumbled on an instant treasure.

My roommate and I had the absolute pleasure of hosting an amazing traveler named John. He's wrapping up a month-long US excursion before heading back home to Sydney. We had a great night of food, drinks, and hilarious conversation. His incredible energy and positive attitude really gave us a well-needed jolt of elation. We were together for only a short period, but the experience was one worth a lifetime.

Outfest LA 2015: Why am I not interested?

It's that time of year again. Outfest has come to LA. July 9-19 is crammed full of this year's top picks in LGBT cinema. Dozens of screenings are calling the attention of local crowds for some enlightening days at the Directors Guild of America, Redcat Theater, and Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Dozens of films have been chosen to highlight and showcase all members of our community in the best ways possible.

And yet, this year I find myself lacking the motivation to attend. The spark that ignited within me one year ago has failed to even flicker in excitement. Why that is, I do not know. It's not to say there is a shortage of quality film this time around. As expected, many of the pieces being shown sound quite good. Some dreadfully predictable, and others outright offensive. After so many years watching the progress of mainstream film, I hold niche categories to an even higher standard. Too many clichè characters, concepts and storylines continue to fill an already offensive image of the community. It becomes difficult to promote diversity when certain films resort to money-making tactics of Old Hollywood, effectively pushing back the cause a few decades for the sake of a "good laugh" or relatability factor (which is quite hypocritical in its own right). I've stopped putting up with it in mainstream entertainment, and should never of had to deal with it in LGBT cinema.

At last year's OutfestLA, I had the great honor of watching a screening of Robin Williams's final film, Boulevard. It was such an amazing experience to see him commanding such a role with great effort, as he has done masterfully throughout his career. I applauded the film and could not wait to see another. On a separate day of the festival, The Way He Looks premiered to an adoring crowd. This cinematic gem follows the story of a blind youth trying to make his own way through life and coming to terms with his budding sexuality. It was so wonderfully crafted and offered a unique perspective to the genre, as well as an incredibly simple yet powerful solution to the usual storm of dramatics.

Perhaps it was witnessing such a high caliber of film that moved me to a state in which I could no longer settle for less. We fill our minds with such dribble on a daily basis, with hardly any progress on systemic evolution. The same stories are told over and over, by the same people, with the same looks. Representation is sorely lacking, as all developing roles are filled by generic templates common of Hollywood culture, and lesser, more forgettable roles are filled by stereotypes meant to serve as a literary byproduct. And now, to see these types of films receive praise as "the best and brightest in LGBT cinema" merely because the cast or crew play for another team, serves as nothing but a severe offense to both the medium as well as the people it's meant to help. Taking "what works" in mainstream entertainment and merely making it gay is not what I call progress.

Am I overreacting? Being a bit of a bitch? Maybe, but I don't care. While tons of crap continues to get pushed out into the public eye, there are amazing programs being ignored that serve as solutions to many of these programs. Powerful women undefined by men; LGBT characters with unique personalities relevant to their lifestyles and career choices; stories not defined by inevitable "love" and relationships, but rather evolution of the self. These are the kind of productions that deserve the community's attention and praise.

Now don't misunderstand. I love a cute romance or good, cheesy comedy. Definitely a nice, raunchy film or two. There's nothing wrong with a bunch of bitchy queens delivering an onslaught of dry humor and sarcasm. But do they really deserve a top ten slot year after year? If we want mainstream entertainment to change their perception of us, shouldn't we adjust the one we have of ourselves?

WeHo Celebrates Landmark Victory for Marriage Equality

In celebration of today's Supreme Court ruling, the Los Angeles LGBT Center hosted a rally in West Hollywood Park on San Vicente Blvd. The crowd quickly gathered in cheer and celebration as members of local organizations took to the stage to share their insight on this important day in history. The Center's CEO, Lorri L. Jean spoke first, reminding us that while we need the stop and appreciate all that today means to us, we cannot lose sight of all we still have left to do. We need to take the momentum of this victory and continue the fight for true equality; a fight that will not end until all humans are treated equal. The fight isn't over, but today love won.

While we still have a long way to go, let us not get distracted by negativity. I have seen too many posts criticizing today's celebrations in favor of issues still at hand. The fight is made pointless if we do not stop and celebrate all our victories, big and small. Allow love into your heart today, and use its strength to continue fighting tomorrow.

What a great turnout!

Victory for Marriage Equality

The internet is ablaze today in what can only be described as a momentous victory in the fight for equality. The Supreme Court has ruled marriage bans unconstitutional in all 50 states and US territories. Can I get a woot woot?!

All across social media, people are expressing their joy and excitement for what this means to the LGBT community. Victories like this remind us all that we're in this fight for a reason, and all our efforts are worth it. Progress is made every day and everything up until now has led to this very moment. Now, the fight may be far from over, but it's definitely important to take a second to stop, look back, and take it all in. Pray for those we've lost and remember that no death is meaningless. Many tragedies we've suffered have sparked greater involvement from the community and inspired others to carry on even stronger. Never forget those who have come before us, and never lose sight of the path they've set us on. The road is long, but together, as time goes by, we take greater steps in much shorter amounts of time. Equality is the future. Let us take today to enjoy victory as the present.



On a less serious note, I can already hear my mother asking me four years from now why someone my age hasn't found a husband yet. Le sigh.