GAY.CAT
MADE IN CHINAארכב עבורSWEDEN
VISITORS OF GAY.CAT
GAY.CAT does not receive may visitors but the few who visit GAY.CAT come from around the world. Although not just from any part.
Most of the people who come to GAY.CAT come from the state of Spain. Almost half of this people come from Catalonia (amd most from Barcelona, the place where GAY.CAT is edited)
Then the rest of people come mostly from the US, the UK and from Europe as you can see in the flags I put above. From China I do not receive visits and I receive some visits from Muslim countries as can be seen here. Let me use this post to give thanks to all the visitors from all over the planet.
Netanyahu enters Sweden organ row
This is the title of an article you can read in one of my favourites media: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8217042.stm
As you may know there is a row between Sweden and Israel as a Swedish newspaper has claimed Israeli soldiers took organs from Palestinians to sell them.
As this blog has Hebrew as the setting language and as I have some posts related to Sweden too I find I should post this news related to both countries.
As this is a very sensitive issue I also put here two of my favourites songs from Eurovision 2009 in order to bring something nice to this post. The songs are From Noa and Mira Awad and from Marlena Ernman. Maybe one day they could sing together. Love to anyone reading this blog from Israel or Sweden, in particular to these three wonderful ladies. And I am not flirting, I am just a gay.cat …
By the way, I knew when I wrote this post that it could become Top Post in the Hebrew WordPress Top Posts … but I always imagine things that never become reality so who knows if I will be wrong again …
GAY.CAT LOVES SWEDEN
GAY.CAT has never been in Sweden. Not even nearby. But just now I have realised how thankful should I be with Sweden.
All began about thirty years ago. I used to watch a series called PIPI CALZASLARGAS (PIPPI LONGSTOCKING). It was about a young girl who lived alone in a house and she had a horse and a little monkey. The sense of freedom from that series was immense.
Ten years later a group called ABBA brought tenderness to the whole planet. In fact I write this post because I feel nostalgic and when I feel nostalgic a song comes to my mind: FERNANDO
And some weeks ago, if you followed this blog you would have noticed that my favourite song for EUROVISION 2009 was that of Malena Ernman: "LA VOIX"
I think it was one of the best songs and it is a pity that in Moscow it could not shine so well as it shines on the above video. I will never forget this magnificint song!
So, I have never been in a country that is known worlwide for being one of the most advanced and tolerant ones. Fortunately Sweden has come to me instead!
TODAY IS THE DAY, MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THE DAY, OUR DAY. TODAY IS THE DAY WHEN GAY RUSSIANS WILL SHOW TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE PROUD. WE ARE PROUD OF OSCAR WILDE, WE ARE PROUD OF GARCIA LORCA, WE ARE PROUD OF TCHAIKOVKSY, WE ARE PROUD OF NUREYEV, WE ARE PROUD OF OURSELVES. IT IS OUR LIFE MY FRIENDS, WE, THE GAY, WE ARE NO MORE THAN NO GAY PEOPLE. BUT WE ARE NO LESS. WE ONLY LIVE ONCE AND WE HAVE TO LIVE. WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE. THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN GAY PEOPLE WON'T BE BANNED FROM SOME COUNTRIES. TO BEGIN, LET'S BEGIN WITH EUROPE. FROM ONE SIDE OF EUROPE, I SEND YOU THIS MESSAGE OF FRATERNITY, YOU SPEAK RUSSIAN AND I DO NOT SPEAK RUSSIAN. BUT WHEREVER WE LIVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE GAY MEANS DISCRIMINTATION. SINCE HOMOPHOBIA IS EVERYWHERE WE GROW UP WITHIN HOMOPHOBIA. EVEN OUR FAMILIES CAN REJECT US. BUT WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED AND WE WILL ALWAYS EXIST. AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS. MAY 16TH 2009 WILL BE NOT JUST A HISTORIC DAY FOR RUSSIA AND MOSCOW. IT WILL BE A GLORIOUS DAY FOR EUROPE, BECAUSE MAY 16TH 2009, EUROVISION DAY WILL BE A DAY REMEMBERED BECAUSE IT WAS THE START OF GAY RIGHTS TO ALL EUROPEANS. REAL RIGHTS. EUROPE, WEST, EAST, NORTH AND SOUTH MUST BE A PLACE WHERE ANY GAY CAN MOVE FREELY. DISCRIMINITION IS EVERYWHERE SO THE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS MUST GO ON. LET'S STONEWALL AGAIN! IT IS OUR TIME! MOSCOW EUROVISION 2009, THE START OF A NEW ERA.
Let the music inspire us!
Anyway, if this Saturday there is violence against gay people I hope the singers show their support to the gay people by just showing the rainbow colours. This is a suggestion for the Swedish song, my favourite song. I wonder what Malena Ernman would think about it …:
Well, thanks to Eurovision GAY.CAT was able to know the existence of Malena. Here you can see her singing THE BARBER OF SEVILLE:
And here and interview!:
EUROVISION SWEDISH SINGER WILL PARTICIPATE IN SLAVIC GAY PRIDE IN MOSCOW!
GAY.CAT cannot believe it but something incredible is going to happen this Saturday and it may change history, at least for the gay and lesbian people all around Europe and maybe abroad! I just have read something unbelievable. Some Eurovision singers have decided to take advantage that they are in Moscow and on Saturday morning, just some hours before Eurovision, they will join Slavic Pride! Yeah, Yeah! Can yoo believe that? I never thought that Europe was so tolerant, my God. I have heard that the singers who will join the Slavic Pride are the ones from Sweden, Norway and Greece at least, The Spanish may also join it but nothing has been said yet! The authorities in Moscow are in shock but it is obvoius that this time the police will defend the protesters as the singers will be there too. I imagine the Slavic Pride and hearing "LA VOIX" as background. If this happen I am sure that Sweden would win Eurovision and the song "LA VOIX" would become an iconic gay song! But who knows, maybe is the Greek song … I wish I was in Moscow to be able to join the singers in the Slavic Pride. I am very proud of these wonderful singers.
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Note: All this above was a dream and it is not true, unfortunately. I just wish gay.cat's dream could reach Malena Ernman as I love her song and I think it will become part of the gay iconic sons whether or not she goes to the Slavic Pride! Since I heard it some days ago I cannot bring it out of my mind!Anyway this is what you could read in www.gayrussia.ru :
12.05.2009 09:14:30
Tatchell Determined to Support Russian and Belarusian Activists at Slavic Gay Pride
“These men and women are absolute heroes”
Despite threats to bash and arrest the marchers, British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will attend this Saturday’s Moscow Gay Pride parade – this year renamed Slavic Gay Pride to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality struggles in all Slavic countries, Russian and non-Russian.
The parade is scheduled to take place at lunchtime on Saturday May 16, and coincides with the final of the Eurovision song contest which is being held later that night, also in Moscow.
The Moscow authorities have said the parade is banned and have threatened “tough measures” against anyone who tries to march.
In addition, there is the likelihood of mob violence against the marchers by neo-Nazis, skinheads, ultra-nationalists and Christian fundamentalists – as happened in 2006 and 2007.
“I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners,” said Mr. Tatchell who is the human rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party parliamentary candidate for the university constituency of Oxford East in south-east England.
“All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks. These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them.
“International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence.
“This parade is in defence of human rights. We are defending the often violated human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians. They want legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes. I support their cause.
“Not all Russians are homophobic, but many are. Gay Russians suffer queer-bashing attacks, blackmail, verbal abuse and discrimination in education, housing and employment,. This shames the great Russian nation.
“Saturday's Slavic Gay Pride is about more than gay human rights. It is about the right of all Russian people to freely express their opinions and to protest peacefully. The ban on gay parades is just one example of the systematic suppression of civil liberties in Russia.
“I appeal to President Medvedev, Prime Minister Putin and Mayor Luzhkov: gay people are no threat to Russian society. Be magnanimous. Uphold democratic rights and freedoms. Allow the Slavic Gay Pride parade.
“Although I am determined to support our Russian and Belarusian comrades, like them I am anxious about what may happen to us. But we have to take some risks; otherwise the homophobes and authoritarians will win.
“I don't have much confidence that the Moscow police will accept our right to protest or that they will protect us against neo-Nazi violence.
“At Moscow Pride in 2007 I was beaten almost unconscious by right-wing extremists, while the police stood by and watched. They then arrested me. I spent several hours in police detention before being released without charge. My attackers have never been arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage," said Mr Tatchell.
■ Also attending Slavic Pride will be American gay human rights advocate Andy Thayer from Chicago.
(UkGayNews.Org.Uk, GayRussia.Ru)
“These men and women are absolute heroes”
Despite threats to bash and arrest the marchers, British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will attend this Saturday’s Moscow Gay Pride parade – this year renamed Slavic Gay Pride to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality struggles in all Slavic countries, Russian and non-Russian.
The parade is scheduled to take place at lunchtime on Saturday May 16, and coincides with the final of the Eurovision song contest which is being held later that night, also in Moscow.
The Moscow authorities have said the parade is banned and have threatened “tough measures” against anyone who tries to march.
In addition, there is the likelihood of mob violence against the marchers by neo-Nazis, skinheads, ultra-nationalists and Christian fundamentalists – as happened in 2006 and 2007.
“I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners,” said Mr. Tatchell who is the human rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party parliamentary candidate for the university constituency of Oxford East in south-east England.
“All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks. These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them.
“International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence.
“This parade is in defence of human rights. We are defending the often violated human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians. They want legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes. I support their cause.
“Not all Russians are homophobic, but many are. Gay Russians suffer queer-bashing attacks, blackmail, verbal abuse and discrimination in education, housing and employment,. This shames the great Russian nation.
“Saturday's Slavic Gay Pride is about more than gay human rights. It is about the right of all Russian people to freely express their opinions and to protest peacefully. The ban on gay parades is just one example of the systematic suppression of civil liberties in Russia.
“I appeal to President Medvedev, Prime Minister Putin and Mayor Luzhkov: gay people are no threat to Russian society. Be magnanimous. Uphold democratic rights and freedoms. Allow the Slavic Gay Pride parade.
“Although I am determined to support our Russian and Belarusian comrades, like them I am anxious about what may happen to us. But we have to take some risks; otherwise the homophobes and authoritarians will win.
“I don't have much confidence that the Moscow police will accept our right to protest or that they will protect us against neo-Nazi violence.
“At Moscow Pride in 2007 I was beaten almost unconscious by right-wing extremists, while the police stood by and watched. They then arrested me. I spent several hours in police detention before being released without charge. My attackers have never been arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage," said Mr Tatchell.
■ Also attending Slavic Pride will be American gay human rights advocate Andy Thayer from Chicago.
(UkGayNews.Org.Uk, GayRussia.Ru)
MARLENA ERNMAN – BARCELONA
Malena Ernman is the singer that Sweden has chosen fro Eurovision with LA VOIX. Here you can listen to her singing BARCELONA. The same song with MONTSERRAT CABALLÉ and FREDDIE MERCURY:
And here GAY.CAT NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR EUROVISION 2009!:
GAY.CAT'S EUROVISION CHOICE
CHOICE NUMBER 1: SWEDEN
CHOICE NUMBER 2: NORWAY
CHOICE NUMBER 3: GREECE
CHOICE NUMBER 4: ANDORRA
CHOICE NUMBER 5: GERMANY
Let me explain my choice. The song from Sweden reminds me of opera and at the same time has a very new sound on it! It is dreaming like. The singer has a very intriguing look. This song makes you fly.
The song from Norway maybe is not my favourite but it is romantic and nice. The singer seems the brother of Audrey Hepburn and he should go to Holywood. Alexander is a fairy tale! He has the looks of an angel and such a pretty voice too. Difficult not to fall in love with such an angel!! Sakis Rouvas from Greece seems to be a gay icon. I feel more attracted by Alexander but the song from Greece and Sakis are ideal for a disco session! Andorra song seems to me quite good but I imagine I am subjective as the song is also in Catalan. The German song reminds me of Golden America. The singer is quite different from Alexander and Sakis too. I also took notice of the singer from the Checz Republic.In http://gaycat.wordpress.com/2009/05/10/all-eurovision-2009-songs/
you can listen to the 42 songs. Not all of them will go to the final on May 16th as there will be a semifinal. GAY.CAT has listened to all of them – Europe is so diverse, my God! – and above was my choice. I have to say that Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Israel,Portugal and theatretical song from Checz Republic also seem gorgeous.
Let me say the name of the singer and the song of the GAY.CAT choices:
SWEDEN: "LA VOIX" by MARLENA ERNMANNORWAY: "FAIRYTALE" by ALEXANDER RYBAK
GREECE: "THIS IS OUR NIGHT" by SAKIS ROUVAS
ANDORRA: "GET A LIFE – LA TEVA DECISIO" by SUSANNE GEORGE
GERMANY: "MISS KISS KISS BANG" ALEX SWINGS, OSCAR SINGS
