Real Housewives Of Atlanta Recap: Cynthia And Porsha Have It Out!

     I've been away from blogging for a while, but I thought that the new season of RHOA was the perfect time to return to "It Is The Lifestyle". Tuning in, I was a little bit skeptical of what would be of this season after last season was so explosive, but I have not been disappointed at all. On the season premiere, it was pretty much about Phaedra and Apollo, as Apollo was sentenced to eight years in prison, leaving Phaedra to cope with raising her two sons without a father. Meanwhile, the other ladies talked about the aftermath of Porsha pulling Kenya's hair during last season's reunion. Speaking of Kenya, the second episode was explosive as ever as Apollo admitted that he had lied about Ms. Moore offering him sex and seeing her in L.A. This is where this past week's episode picked up.

(From bet.com)

    To start the episode, Kandi lets Phaedra know about Apollo's confession, and Phaedra graciously says that she needs to offer Kenya and apology. Meanwhile, Kenya tells her aunt what Apollo said, and her aunt tells her that she needs to make a mends with the other ladies. Stressed out from all the gossip going on around her, or so I assume, Kandi and Todd have a little bit of playtime in the bedroom after. It's not all fun and game for the newlywed though, as Todd's daughter moves in to their ATL home. The meeting between Todd's daughter and Kandi's daughter was hysterical as the two obviously seemed to clash, but I think they will end up liking each other by the end of the day. After all that was over, we see Apollo consulting with one of Atlanta's top divorce attorneys about a potential divorce from Phaedra, as Phaedra, seemingly unaware, plays with her kids at home in the pool. Across town, we are introduced to Claudia, who I can tell is going to spice things up.  Next up, things got super heated, as NeNe and Porsha discuss the new girl Claudia and their mutual dislike for Cynthia, which eventually leads up to the Cynthia and Porsha meeting to hatch things out. After showing up an hour late, Porsha dominates the conversation and does not let Cynthia get a word in edgewise. Cynthia fights back though, claiming that she is not a flip flopper, like Porsha claims, and she also says that she only commented on Porsha's anti-gay video clip because Porsha talked badly about her. In the end, Cynthia storms out of the restaurant, leaving Porsha alone in a room with all eyes on her, and the episode ends. What do you think about this season so far? Whose side are you on in the Cynthia/Porsha feud? Let me know below.

Quick And Easy Fiesta: Beef Burritos And A Delicious Cadillac Margarita Recipe

Waiting for sprinkle of cheese

     The sun is out, and, to me, that's a reason to celebrate. And what better reason to celebrate than a fiesta night at home? K Dub and I had a few friends over the other night, and we made them margaritas, burritos, and all the fixings for a Mexican fiesta. This is how we did it.
     For the burritos we chopped a half of an onion and cooked it in a pan with an entire 8 oz. can of black beans. We then added a half a pound of beef and approximately one half of a red bell pepper. To be honest, we had made way too much beef stew the night before, and we fished out the beef and pepper from that. It's called being thrifty and efficient people. From there, we added about 1/2 teaspoon of paprika and a few teaspoons of pepper. Seasoning, to me, is a personal matter, so you can add more or less if you want. Finally, we added about 1/4 cup of tomato sauce and stirred the ingredients together.
   After we cooked the mixture for about ten minutes  (or until the onion becomes softened), we got out six tortillas and filled them with the mixture. We then put plenty of cheese in them, and rolled them up. To top it off, we put sour cream and more cheese on top. What we got was pure deliciousness.

   Then, it was time for the margaritas. For those, we decided to go with one of our favorites, the Cadillac Margarita. We mixed 4 1/2 oz. of 100%  agave Tequila, 3 oz. of Grand Marnier, 3/4 oz. fresh lime, and 3 oz. of sweet & sour mix in the blender. Of course, we added plenty of ice in their too. When it was all blended together, it yielded three servings. For the sake of tradition, we took the lime, rubbed it around the edges of the glass, and dipped it in salt before we poured the tasty mixture in. Let me tell you something, it worked because those drinks were super good.
   I'm not the only one who thought this though. Our guests loved the drinks so much, we had to make them several times that night. Fair warning, they can be a bit strong so make sure the lightweights at the party mange themselves. Nevertheless, the drinks and the food turned out great so if you are in need for some ideas for your next fiesta night, both recipes are ones that I would definitely recommend. Do you have any fiesta suggestions, stories, or ideas? If so, please leave them in the comment section below so we can all share in them. Happy eating and drinking folks!

Popular Queen: Marti Gould Cummings Chats With RuPaul''s Drag Race Contestant Bianca Del Rio

   If you haven't figured it out yet, Bianca Del Rio has captured the hearts of America on RuPaul's Drag Race. She's done this through showing both sides of her personality, a biting comedy queen on one hand and a caring person who wants to see her drag sisters do well on the other. Bianca recently sat down with Marti Gould Cummings to chat about how it feels to have done this, her first foray into the drag world, and her friendship with Lady Bunny.  This is sure to be one in a line of many interview's that Bianca will probably do as she gets closer to the crown on RuPaul's Drag Race so watch out world because here she comes!                                        
                             

Betty White Is Baffled By Homophobia

    Betty White recently sat down with Larry King, and, among other things, she stated that she doesn't understand homophobia. After all, she see it as a personal matter that is none of her business. Now, if we could get the rest of America to think like this, we'd be getting somewhere. You may recall, Betty White had gay friends, such as Rock Hudson during her career, and this could certainly be what makes her spot on about this issue. After all, studies have shown when someone knows a gay person they are more likely to have positive opinions about gay issues such as marriage. Just another reason to love America's sweetheart even more!

Calling Them Out: Why LGBT People Should Get Behind The People Exposing Corruption With The #myNYPD Hashtag

     It was June of 1969. Cops stormed the Stonewall Inn in New York City, arresting gay folks for living their lives. Having dealt with abuse from the police force for years, the LGBT men and women finally had enough. They stood up to the brutality, and the gay rights movement began. Today, folks are still standing up to the NYPD, which some say has become more violent in the years since Stonewall, but they are doing it in a much more peaceful way. They are taking to social media to stand up to the violence.

(From www.benswann.com)

     The New York City Police Department first asked people to send pictures of their force earlier this week using #myNYPD. Expecting to see smiling faces of their force, the NYPD got a surprise when Twitter users took the opportunity to call them out for their abuse of the public. From photos of an elderly man who took a beating from the NYPD after jaywalking to the story of a boy whose legs were broke by cops, New Yorkers are letting the world know about the abusive police state that exists in the Big Apple.
     As a minority community, we as LGBT folks definitely need to support this kind of thing. After all, minorities, both racial and sexual, are the ones who are mainly the victims of this kind of abuse. We have been, and still are to a degree, targeted by law enforcement simply for being who we are, and we need to support others who share our struggle to exist peacefully in a discriminatory world. So, if you have any stories or pictures of police abuse, make your stories heard by taking to Twitter using #myNYPD or whatever your city's police department is, so that we can make sure that this kind of abuse towards our fellow humans comes to an end once and for all. After all,  if Stonewall taught us one thing it was that speaking out against injustice is the only way to ensure that more injustice in the future. If we do this, who knows, we might be able to give future generations a better world, free of  hate, discrimination, and corruption where no one has to fear their local law enforcement officials. 

You've Got Mail: RuPaul's Drag Race Praised And Attacked For Dropping Phrase From Show

From omgblog.com

        
     As you know, RuPaul's Drag Race has dropped the phrase "You've got she-mail" from the show after complaints poured in from transgender advocates that the popular catchphrase on the hit reality show is transphobic. While many former contestants weighed in saying that the line should be kept on the program, former contestant Carmen Carrera, who is transgender, came out swinging saying that she thought the word "she-male" was inappropriate in any case. While she may hold this opinion, other trans women, including Our Lady J, have come out saying that Logo dropping the term is nothing but scensorship.
  As a cisgender male, I must say that I don't see what the fuss is about. To me, RuPaul never referred to a transgender woman as a "shemale", and I don't know if calling a drag queen a "shemale" qualifies as transphobia at all. After all, I see tons of movies where a straight man calls another straight man "the f word", and I take no offense to it. Now, if they referred to a gay person as that word, it would be a whole different story because that is blatant homophobia. If this is the case, I would not take RuPaul's word as an attack on trans people unless they were directed at a trans person.
   Though I don't find Ru's words to be transphobic, I understand that some people in the transgender community do take offense to the words, and, if it makes them that upset, it's no skin off my teeth that they drop the words from the show. After all, I watch the show for entertainment value, not for one catch phrase. To make such a big fuss over them getting rid of the words only wastes time getting accomplished what we need to as a community. So, let's come together and respect one another's opinions. This way, we can be a united front in fighting for equality for all people regardless of sexual preference or gender identity in the years to come.

Dive Into Gay Portland, Oregon: Five Great Gay Bars In The City Of Roses

    Portland, Oregon is one of the most gay friendly cities in America. While you can feel comfortable as a gay person pretty much anywhere in the city, there are a few bars that will have you feeling right at home with your gay brothers and sisters. Here are five that you should check out if you are ever in town.

1. CC Slaughters. This great dance club is a Portland institution. It's been around for thirty years, and it still remains the number one spot to get your groove on with your fellow gays. Even better, there's no cover so you can party on a budget. It's located at 219 NW Davis Street.

(From gaytravel.com)

2.) Darcelle's. Right next door to CC's, Darcelle's is the number one place to see Portland's top drag queens and female impersonators. The shows are fun and campy, but the only downside is the $15 cover. It's located at 208 NW 3rd Avenue.

(From Pinterest)

3.) Silverado. A few blocks over, you can get a different kind of entertainment at Silverado. This gay bar and strip club is popular with locals who want to see buff guys baring all. During the week, they have no cover most of the time, but cover is three bucks on weekend nights. It's located at 318 SW 3rd Avenue.

(From silveradopdx.com)

 

4.) The Eagle. The Eagle is probably Portland's number one most popular gay bar on the east side of Portland. While its patrons can sometimes be burly bears and the leather crowd, they are accepting of everybody. It's a great place to grab a beer and chill on a Friday night. It's located at 835 N. Lombard Street. 

 

 

(From www.oregonlive.com)

5.) The Local Lounge. Last but not least, we have The Local Lounge. Also on the east side, this bar is one of the newest gay spots in the city. It's a laid back bar with a relaxed feel, and it will have you feeling right at home. It's located at 3536 NE MLK Boulevard.

(From www.gaytravel.about.com)

  So there you have it. There's five great gay dives to check out next time you find yourself in Portland. Like the people in this city, they are all a little unique, but they will entertain you nevertheless. Enjoy!                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                     

Comedy Do: Standup Comic Rob Gleeson Talks Being Gay On "Conan"

   I think I have a new crush named Rob Gleeson. This extremely cute guy, with a wicked sense of humor, first got my attention when I saw him on "Conan" earlier in the month (Video above). He talked openly about being gay, Wisconsin accents, and why he was afraid to come out for so long.  His standup routine was adorable, and it has me wanting to see more of him. What do you think? Do you think Rob has what it takes to be the next big name in comedy?  

American Man Wins Boston Marathon: First Time In Over Two Decades

From thesunchronicle.com

    It's been over two decades since an American won the Boston Marathon, but Meb Keflezighi did just that today. Coming in at 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 37 seconds, Keflezighi took home the top prize at the race. This was the first time since 1983 that an American has won the race, and it is a testament to the American spirit that this occurred a year after the Boston Marathon was targeted by terrorists. Rita Jeptoo, from Kenya, took home the top spot for the women's division. Though they didn't win, many others raced today to show their support and respect for those who died and were injured in last year's bombing. In my book, all who participated in this years race are winners simply due to their determination to complete the marathon, especially in light of the tragic events that happened last year.

Fly Young Red Makes BET Debut: Is Hip Hop Getting Closer To Embracing The LGBT Community?

hit song "Throw That Boy Pussy At Me" took YouTube by storm, has made it big time. In fact, he even got to sit down with BET.com to talk about the song and his life. It's a pretty big deal to see an openly gay artist with a song that deals with gay life make it this far, and it has me thinking that hip hop may soon be more accepting of GLBT people. Watch the interview after the jump and let me know what you think. Will gay rappers be more accepted in the rap community in the near future?  

History Repeating: Jews In Ukraine Asked To Register With The Government

    In some extremely terrifying news, Jews in Ukraine say that they were told to register with the government. This happened after masked men told them they would be deported if they did not register and handed them a flyer telling them exactly what to do. The Russian led government of this particular part of Ukraine has denied any ties to the incident, and world leaders are calling for the incident to be looked into thoroughly. It's truly appalling to think that in this day and age their are still people with such extreme ideologies living among us, and it shows us that the human race has much farther to go.

YouTube Nation: Guys Hitting On Guys Video Goes Viral

   Being gay, we have to be a little bit more careful when trying to pick up the perfect guy. Or do we? The folks at the "Whatever" YouTube channel tested it out where they had a guy ask guys around L.A. for their phone numbers. What they got was totally hilarious. Watch below and let me know your most horrific experience trying to pick up a guy.

Stay Away: Brunei Just Passed Horrific Gay Stoning Law

From commons.wikimedia.org

 If your looking to go on vacation, stay the heck out of Brunei. The Southeast Asian nation has just passed a law that is met to crack down on homosexuality in the country. How are they doing this? Well, homosexuals will be publicly stoned starting next week. The country's current law puts GLBT folk in prison for ten years, but that's not enough for them I guess. So now, they are going to start trying to silence the voices of gays and lesbians by killing them. Hopefully, the United Nations will be able to step in as they have already released a statement of strong disapproval on the issue, but, if this doesn't work, we will be seeing the bloodshed of many innocent lives over the next few weeks, months, and maybe even years. It's a sick world we live in kids! Pray for humanity tonight!

"Portlandia" Tackles Gay Stereotypes With Josh Homme: Watch

  As gay men, we all have that relative or two who think that we should fit into the gay stereotype. You know, your crazy cousin who thinks that you should have brunch with her on Sunday or your sister who expects you to pick out her clothes. Well, "Portlandia" dove deep into this hard hitting topic when they featured a sketch where Josh Homme came to stay with Carrie Brownstein's character. When Homme's character doesn't live up to expectations, Brownstein's character learns a lesson about stereotyping. Watch below and tell me if you've ever had a similar incident happen to you.

           
                   

He's Got A Snake In His Pants (Literally): Neil Patrick Harris' Shirtless And Exotic Pic

   Neil Patrick Harris is one busy guy, but that doesn't mean he doesn't keep up with his body. The "How I Met Your Mother" star is slated to take on the role of Hedwig in the Broadway production of "Hedgwig And The Angry Inch", and he sat down with Vanity Fair to talk about his experience. Included in the interview is this steamy pic of Harris (taken by Annie Liebovitz), shirt off, with a snake coming out of his pants. His ripped muscles and great body are so good NPH decided to share the pic of himself and his scaly friend with the world on Twitter, and no one's complaining. Hopefully, we'll see more pics like this to come.

From Neil Patrick Harris' Twitter 

Holiday Happiness: Easter Ideas From Around The Web

 Easter is approaching fast. That means it's time to get those eggs dyed, that Easter basket stuffed, and put on the holiday roast. Here are a few ideas from around the web to help make your Easter one to be remembered.

Martha Stewart's friend Kevin Sharkey makes an awesome, modern and unique Easter basket.

From www.designbolts.com

Food Network's Tyler Florence shares a tropical twist on the Easter ham.

These 100 plus crafts will give you lots of Easter inspiration.

The folks at Tractor Supply give you advice on how to care for your Easter chicks.

P. Allen Smith teaches us how to set your Easter table at a low cost.

Betty Crocker dishes up a delicious Easter bunny cake.

Rachel Seis at "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" lets us know about no dye Easter eggs.

Dianne Gottsman teaches us proper Easter etiquette to have during that Easter dinner party.

And, lastly, did you know EHow simplifies Easter attire for men into a few easy steps? 

 So there you have it folks, a few ideas to get you started on preparing for Sunday. Hope it helps and happy Easter to you all!

Helping Out: Singer Pharrell Comes Out For Marriage Equality On "Ellen"

     Pharrell Williams is having one great year.  His song "Happy" has taken the nation  by storm, and it even earned him an Oscar nod. Now, he is lending his voice to issues that are important to him, equality for women and GLBT people. He stopped by "Ellen" this week, and besides talking about how he's so busy he didn't realize he was nominated for nine Billboard Awards, he stated how absurd it is that GLBT people have less rights than others in this day and age. It's great to see this talented guy has our back, and I wish him much success in the years to come.