Clips of the Week: "Barack Obama is a Racist "

Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music by our producer, David Guggenheim. This week: “Barack Obama is a Racist”

Today's Show: Why We Need to Get Interested in Science, ASAP.

4:30ET: I will be joined by, Sheril Kirshenbaum, co-author of ; Unscientific America; How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future.

Today's Show: A Kiss is Just a Kiss

3:30ET: Matt Aune will join me to discuss what happened to him and his boyfriend, Derek Jones, on July 9, 2009 in the Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City, Utah, outside the Mormon Temple. The kiss they shared sparked several all out "kiss-in" protests of the LDS church and its blatant homophobia.

Today's Show: Did U.S. Troops Commit Atrocities Against Gay Iraqis?

4:30 ET, I'll speak with Kevin Naff, editor of The Washington Blade, which has published a shocking story that, if proven true, would be scandal beyond proportions: according to gay refugees, U.S. troops detained and then executed gay Iraqis. The refugees who told a stunned audience -- and showed graphic photos -- at a fundraising event at Human Rights Campaign headquarters in DC for an LGBT group in Lebanon. If this is a hoax, it must be proven so, and certainly is a story. If it is not, then it is a grave violation of international law and warrants a full investigation and prosecution.

More disturbingly, however, has been what seems like a desire by gay groups not to investigate further a story that could be an explosive political minefield. Naff wrote in a commentary that he received criticism for reporting on the event and the photos. He will join me to discuss the possibilities and ramifications of this story, as well as the complaints he received.

Today' Show: The Terminator Terminates AIDS Programs

3:30 ET: I'll speak with Lori Jean of the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. She and many other LGBT activists are outraged over cuts that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made on AIDS funding, which they believe decimate service groups that are already struggling to help people with HIV and AIDS.

Today's Show: Obama's Pass on DADT

4:30ET: Aaron Belkin, Director of the Palm Center will join me to discuss his think tank's blasting of Washington LGBT groups giving cover to Obama on stopping discharges of gay servicepeople.

Today's Show: A Friendship with Walter Cronkite

3:30ET: I will speak with, Mark Segal,Editor of the Philadelphia Gay News, about his friendship with Walter Cronkite and how Mark helped Walter see why Gay News is important.

Beck: "Obama is a Racist"

I am simply astounded by this clip of Glenn Beck accusing President Obama of being a racist and it surely shows that all those who claimed we'd entered a "post-racial" era with Obama's election were smoking something awfully strong.

R.I.P. Robert Hilferty

Robert Hilferty, a passionate activist, writer and ACT UP comrade died a few days ago, taking his own life last week after struggling with a head injury for many months. A filmmaker who documented many of ACT UP's action, including his film "Stop the Church," in recent years he was doing a lot of cultural and arts criticism, most recently writing film reviews for Bloomberg.com He was smart, prickly and often wickedly funny, and I had many laughs with him. I had not seen him a few years but thought of him often, and am thinking right now of his wonderful partner of many years Fabio Toblini, to whom I send all my condolences.

Today's Show: Where is Bryce Faulkner?

4:30ET: Bryce Faulkner, 23-year-old med student, vanished from friends weeks ago. They believe his family threatened him and sent him to an "ex-gay" therapy camp. I will be joined by, Rev. Brett Harris , creator of the "Help Save Bryce" website, and Travis Swanson, Bryce's long distance boyfriend.

Today's Show: Taking on Divisions.

3:30 ET: John Amaechi, black openly gay NBA player, psychologist, and New York Times best-selling author, will join me to discuss the racism, homophobia, LGBT politcs and some of the issues that have intersected both the black community and the LGBT movement in recent weeks. He's got a lot to say.

Today's Show: David Mixner Speaks Out

3:30 ET: The acclaimed author, political strategist,and gay civil rights activist David Mixner -- an advisor to President Clinton, who broke with the president over "don't ask, don't tell" -- will join me to discuss the current state of the LGBT movement. A supporter of and organizer for Barack Obama in the presidential race, he's been highly outspoken and critical of the president on LGBT rights. He's also now speaking out about the national LGBT groups. In his four part blog post, he explains why idly waiting by the side lines for the right time to strike is a big mistake. Mixner also recently called, along with Cleve Jones, for a march on Washington, which is now happening in the fall. On the show, he'll explain some of his observations and criticisms and why we have to move now.

Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius XM's OutQ: Sirius 109, XM 98 and the Sirius XM iPhone app. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free three-day pass or, if you have an iPhone, go to the app store and dowmload Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial, and listen on your phone.

Wait on Prop 8?

We talked about this on the show in the past couple of weeks. Now The New York Times has covered it, looking at the growing number of voices saying that a ballot repeal of Prop 8 should not happen in 2010, and that we should wait until 2012.

We're going to set a debate/discussion on the show some time soon to air out both sides. What are your thoughts?

Saturday Back Talk

These are some of the listener survey comments I read on the show this week. Please take the survey, on the right, if you have not done so and are a listener to the show. Thanks!


Jacksonville, FL (Sirius)
I enjoy listening to the program despite the fact that I disagree with Michael on virtually everything because I want to support OutQ. However, as a gay Republican, I feel that I am in the only part of the gay community that is not welcome here. Gay, lesbian, transgender welcome, Republican not. In my opinion, your program belongs on America left more than OutQ.It is straight Democratic party line on every issue. Despite the fact the somewhere between 20-25% of the Gay population is Republican their is no representation on your program. Not even any kind of intelligent discussion. Instead it is a daily four hour diatribe proclaiming all Republicans as crazy right wing hate mongers. It's ironic to me that a program that demands that the hate against gay people stops is actually itself an exercise in hate.

Lady Lake, FL (XM)
This is by far the best talk radio show on the radio. I have become much more politically active since I have been listening to Michelangelo. Keep up the excellent work; you are truly a voice for our community that we so desperately need.

Bisbee, AZ, (Sirius)
Your self promotion is a turnoff like saying your name over and over and your references to being on CNN...too many advertisements...You do a pretty good job of interviewing your guests but you do interrupt them at times.

Edgewater, PA (Sirius)
Your programs are always insightful and on topics nobody else wants to touch in depth. I think you analyze and explain the issues uniquely, but sometimes you should just let the cranks talk a bit without much interruption and they will hang themselves with their own twisted logic and wingnut views. You are too patient with those that are off topic and sometimes spend a lot of time repeating the same points. Overall, great show and one that I find a model of advocacy as entertainment.

Casper, WY (Sirius)
I truly enjoy listening to the show. Whatever topic you are discussing, you always listen to what the caller or guest has to say before you interject. Whether you agree with them or not, at least you let them state their opinion before you speak. I find it interesting that people will write in saying you don't give the callers a chance to speak their mind, but every time I have listened, most callers state their opinion within the first 30 seconds of their call and then they just keep back tracking. You may interrupt them, but they have already stated what they wanted to say. Keep up the good work. I really enjoy hearing you on the radio and not taking any shit from anyone! You Rock!

Albequerque, NM (XM)
I like the way you handle your callers. Never abrupt or rude. You have a class A show. Now give me a book (just kidding).

San Francisco, CA (Sirius)
I love the show. Reading Queer in America in my twenties was a seminal moment in my life. I actually finished it on an airplane, called my parents on the phone in the back of the seat in front of me and said, "No more skirting the issue. I'm out. I'm totally out forever more." So I was thrilled to discover this show on Sirius, which I bought so I could listen to Howard Stern. I feel so much more informed and engaged not only with the issues surrounding the LGBT community but all kinds of issues in general political or otherwise. I like the discussions that really inform me of things I haven't considered. For example, there was a discussion awhile back about gay Iraqis trying to form communities but also needing to relocate frequently to avoid danger. That was fascinating. I loved the recent conversation with Barney Frank. I thought he came off like a belligerent snob who feels like we should take what he offers us and be happy about it. it really made me sit up and realize that those we look to as leaders are full of human foibles and we need to watch them more carefully. During the election I participated in the real-time comments and enjoyed it very much. I've called into the show and that was exciting and left me feeling very empowered for the rest of the day. Kudos not only to Michelangelo but to David Guggenheim as well.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sirius)
Michelangelo your show is fantastic! Thanks for presenting the issues in a very intelligent way! I'm totally hooked on your show! Keep the good stuff coming,

Longview TX (XM)
I really enjoy Michelangelo. If I have one criticism of his on air performance, it is that he is frequently imprecise in his choice of words. It isn't that he doesn't know what he is talking about, it is just that he doesn't choose the exact words needed to convey the specific point he is trying to make. I ordinarily wouldn't complain about this . . . but you did ask.

Cincinnati, OH (Sirius)
I enjoy your show. I like the in depth interviews, sound effects and hearing what people think about your various and diverse subjects. I don't always agree but I do always learn.

Apex, NC (Sirius)
I like that you are a pit bull about gay issues. we need that out there. However you have to let you guests speak when you interview them. I find that I have to turn the show off because the interviews are one sided as hell. I can understand you being that way when you have some crazy guest on, but sometimes it is just too difficult to listen to.

Atlanta GA (Sirius)
Love the show - a great balance on my left side. The only criticism is that there is the occasional erudite point made by a guest or caller that is ignored when that point is in opposition to Michelangelo's ongoing hypothesis. Not a constant, but when the "ignore" tone comes into the voice, I find that I am irritated. This is caused by my love of having a full and robust double sided debate with trying to wear the shoes of both sides. For me personally, this causes my most rapid learning. On balance, my enjoyment of the show is far higher than the irritants - and so, I return again and again.

On the topic of the clips - love them. HATE Glen Beck - refuse to watch or listen to him EVER. BUT, since Michelangelo played the one clip, I did listen in order to get the full context. Please never play the full clip, but it is JUST fine to play the final scream of that fat-headed idiot. I picture that female caller of his having grabbed his balls and squeezed, twisted, and pulled as hard as she could. I CHEER her on to many happy returns.

Clips of the Week: "I'm Here to Save Lives!"

Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music, this week by our associate producer, Kara O'Connor. This week: “I’m Here to Save Lives!”

Today's Show: “Heteroflexible” the New Gay?

4:30ET: Brent Hartinger, Contributor for AfterElton.com, will talk to me about his article regarding the new trend in Entertainment, the Heteroflexibility of Straight Men.

Today's Show: GLADD'S New Leader

3:30ET: I will be joined by, Jarrett Barrios, the newly selected president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Today's Show: Gay is NOT the New Black

4:30ET: I will speak with LZ Granderson, Senior writer and columnist for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, who recently wrote an article for CNN about the divide of Blacks and Gays and weather or not this should be a communal Civil Rights fight.

Today's Show: Tom Duane has the floor.

3:30ET: New York State Sen. Tom Duane will join me to talk about his impassioned speech on the Senate floor recently, which urged his colleagues to support a bill that prevents people living with HIV or AIDS and receiving public assistance.The vote on the bill, which was not passed by the Assembly, was 52-1. The lone "no" vote was cast by Sen. Kemp Hannon, a Long Island Republican and former chairman of the Senate Health Committee (now the ranking minority member).

Crackpot Fun!

This is my interview from today with Rev. Leroy Swailes. Why did we talk to him? Though not any major player on the religious right, he has influence, sadly, over religious people in Maryland and the Washington area who follow what he says (he spoke at the DC hearing on the new law recognizing marriages of gays and lesbians outside the district, and got huge cheers) and he represents the views of many other people across the country, frightening as that may be. Plus, we need to laugh at these crackpots! We discussed his unique understanding of homosexuality.

UPDATE: I forgot to add that after the interview a co-worker of Rev. Swailes called the show, a woman who works with him at his day job I guess. Amber said that he told her about the upcoming interview, in the parking lot, after he saw a Sirius radio antenna on her car. He said, I'm going on "abomination radio," and she said, "OutQ? I listen to that all the time." She is pro-gay and obviously doesn't agree with Swailes' views, like most people at work. After he told her what time he was going on, she said, "OMG, you are going on the Michelangelo Signorile Show! I can't wait for that." She said he took off from work just to stay home and do the interview, and she said that everyone at work was listening to the interview (half have XM, half have Sirius) in the parking lot! Hilarious.

Today's Show: The Massachusetts Federal Marriage Suit

4:30ET: I speak with Martha Coakley, Massachusetts attorney geeral, who is challenging the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court on behalf of the State of Massachusetts.

Today's Show: Homosexuality = Pedophilia and Bestiality?

3:30ET: Rev. Leroy Swailes, a Maryland minister who unsuccessfuly lobbied against allowing Washington,DC to recognize marriages of gays and lesbians outside the district, will join me to talk about his unique understanding of homosexuality. Should be interesting!

Saturday Back Talk

These are some of the listener survey comments I read on the show this week. If you're a listener to the show and haven't taken the survey please do so by scrolling down at the right and clicking through. Thanks!

Jeffersonville, IN (XM)
You are picky on those that call in / seem like your screener picks the one that always agrees with your topic. And if a disagreeable caller gets off tract with the subject matter you stop them.

When you are reading from your script (is what it sound like your doing on your program) you are going so fast a person is lost on what you are discussing.

That crazy lady you have recording of, well I am embarrassed to have her claim to be republican. I would think they would be some of them on the left side to.

Usually the first hour of your show am changing channel. Is when you really ramble and do not make sense. Can go on about more topics but I really don't think you even read these comments so I am thinking I am waisting my time typing this now.

So if you got this far have a good day and don't be such a hateful person.

Riverview, FL (Sirius)
I love the show and am delighted to listen to it with my partner in my car during our weekday lunch breaks which we take together while I'm in a job search since losing my job late last year.

Dearborn Heights, MI (Sirius)
I always appreciate Michael's thoughtful take on current issues and his willingness to take on difficult topics, however he does sometimes tend to cut off callers before they are able to explain their perspective.

Orlando, FL (Sirius)
Mike is great. I'm not much a fan of the sound effects. I just sometimes find them inappropriate and somewhat annoying, especially during a serious discussion.

Gainsville, FL (Sirius)
I am a new listener to Sirius OutQ. I don't know why people complain about silence or background noise. If they are that annoyed by it then turn down the radio or take the hearing aids out. I am 26 and it doesn't matter what kind of background noise there is or if you pause... I am glad you are on air for the GLBTQ community. I am following you on twitter now which I didn't even know about until Sirius OutQ.

Weatherford TX, (Sirius)
I'm still a huge fan. I enjoy the format of the show, with news first and of course your introduction to the hour ahead. This let's me know what's ahead in case I have to be out of my truck. I'm still concerned with peoples picky and ridiculous complaints about your so called "pregnant pauses." Have listened to interviews about speech on N.P.R. and have learned that this shows cognition. The time you take to organize your thoughts or emphasize a point gives me the appropriate time to digest what your saying.

If I was to critique, I would say that you speak too softly at times which leaves me turning up my radio to hear you. It may just be that you guys keep the mic levels to low for you. It's not a huge problem, (love it when you say that word) but, it's been consistent since I've been listening. You'll still have to beat me to keep me away, the discussions, interviews and analysis are so relevant and I feel a strong connection.

Indianapolis, IN (Sirius)
Just keep up the good work, pushing for our equality in all 50 states in all things! thanks for all you do to provoke thought!!

Petaluma, CA (XM)
Michael Angelo facilitates a thoughtful discussion of the relevant news topics gay and otherwise. I recently become a listener when I purchased a new car. Now I can't live without it! Keep up the great work, and I promise not to drink the cool aid Mike.

Dallas, TX (Sirius)
You are absolutely amazing! I listen to the original show and then leave the radio on at night; I wake up, listen, and your soothing voice puts me right back to sleep (with a smile on my face and a stirring in the lower regions!)

Clips of the Week: "The Prejudice of Everyday Americans"

Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music, this week by our associate producer, Kara O'Connor. This week: “The Prejudice of Everyday Americans”

Today's Show: Fort Worth Update

3:30ET: I will speak with Jon Nelson, founder of the newly created,Fairness Fort Worth, which was developed in response to a raid on Gay Bar the Rainbow Lounge, on the Anniversary of Stonewall, in Fort Worth Texas.

Today's Show: A Boycott Continues!

4:30 ET: Fred Karger,Founder and Campaign Manager for Californians Against Hate, will join me to discuss the groups second year boycotting Doug Manchester and his mega hotel chain, The Hyatt, which donated $125,000 to support Proposition 8.

Today's Show: The Latest Battle for Marriage Equality

2:30ET: I will speak with Jesse Connelly, newly appointed Campaign Manger for Maine Freedom to Marry,regarding the Religious Rights recent attempt to thwart Same Sex Marriage in Maine. Maine's Governor John Baldacci signed into law a freedom to marry bill overwhelmingly approved by the Senate and House. Maine is the fifth state to end the exclusion of gay couples from marriage.

David Brooks: Senator touched my "inner thigh"

Ok, we're going to take some guesses at who it was on the show today.

Today's Show: Obama's Gay Brain

4:30ET: Steve Hildebrand has been described as the closest gay activist to Barack Obama, someone who advised Obama on the campaign trail and who expressed his disappointment with Obama in The Oval Office recently regarding LGBT issues. Hildebrand is former deputy national campaign director of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and an openly gay Democratic political strategist based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Steve and I will discuss President Obama's stance on LGBT issues, the strong criticisms of the president, his discussion with Obama in the Oval Office and what he believes Barack Obama will do on gay civil rights.

Today's Show: The Supremes

4:30WET: I will speak with Mark Ribowsky, author of The Supremes; A saga of Motown Dreams, Success and Betrayal

Today's Show: NAACP's Refusal to Back Marriage Equality

3:30ET: I will be joined by Mark Thompson, Host of "Make it Plain", LIVE Weekdays 5 pm - 8 pm ET on SIRIUS LEFT Channel 146 and XM America Left Channel 167, and NAACP activist. We will discuss his upcoming coverage of the NAACP's New York Convention, which also marks its 100th Anniversary, and the controversy over the organization not having a policy on marriage equality.

Today's Show:

4:30ET: I will speak with Jason Bartlett, Connecticut State Representative & Deputy Director of the National Black Justice Coalition about the NAACP convention and the black communities stance on Same Sex Marriage.

Today's Show: Blaming the Muslims

3:30ET: Gay conservative Bruce Bawer, author of SURRENDER: Appeasing Islam, Sacrificing Freedom, will join me to discuss his book. Should be interesting!

More Obama Excuses on DADT?

Americablog points out that the President Obama has adopted the language of "change" on gays in the military -- and no, not in a good way. Like Admiral Mullen, he is now not talking of repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," but rather of "changing" the policy. I'm sorry, but to all those who've said we need to wait and see because they got the message, it's clear as day: Just listen to the way they speak.

Today's Show: Bruno Bad for Gays?

4:30ET: I will speak with Hank Stuever, culture critic for the Washington Post, on his review of Sasha Baron Cohen's controversial new movie, Bruno.

Today's Show: The Role of Propaganda in War

3:30ET: Author Susan Brewer will join me to discuss her new book, Why America Fights: Patriotism and War Propaganda from the Philippines to Iraq.

Bruno is Pretty Hilarious

I saw it over the weekend and had some laughs. Not as funny as Borat but I guess if your taste runs in this direction that’s pretty hard to top. Bruno often skewers American culture and takes on just about everyone in this celebrity-obsessed, moralizing nation of ours. Sometimes successfully, sometime not, Sasha Baron Cohen attempts to pierce through attitudes around sex and sexuality, and obviously homosexuality. All of the people Bruno challenges are heterosexual – he comes in contact with no open gays beyond those who are part of his coterie – and ultimately he’s challenging them on their prudishness, their bias, their faux-liberated sexuality and/or their moralizing and their hypocrisies about their privileged ideas regarding parenting and what constitutes a family. His goal as always is to shock sensibilities even if it makes you wince a few times as you guffaw. He has an interaction with an “ex-gay” that is particularly comical.

As for the extreme stereotype of the sex-crazed, hyper-effeminate, totally superficial gay man, I think people are overly worried about this. Bruno is an overblown amalgam of so many people we know -- including perhaps ourselves -- who are alternately charming, annoying and over-the-top, but who often get their way because they have balls. Unlike other scenarios involving these kinds of stereotyped gay characters in pop culture's history, the joke’s not on Bruno in the end, but rather on everyone else. In this way Bruno reminded me of Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde – a woman whose shopping-obsessed, spoiled-brat persona would make any feminist cringe, but who ultimately triumphs in the end, beating out the men and having fun doing it. Perhaps not the most progressive way to make a point, but it’s a comedy. Have a few laughs.

Saturday Back Talk

Some of the the listener survey comments I read on the show this week. If you're a listener to the show and have not taken the survey please do so by clicking through on the link to the right. Thanks!


Yorba Linda, CA (Sirius)
Michelangelo is a refreshing voice of reason in a time of extremism on both ends of the spectrum. While my thoughts and opinions often tend to be more conservative than Michelangelo's,I LOVE the way he articulates his case and often times his thoughts cause me to challenge and change my way of thinking. For the record I am a 36 year old man living with my partner of 8 years. Together we are raising my 16 year old son from a previous marriage. We live in Orange County California which is the heartland of the Republican Party in our state.

Conventry, CT (Sirius)
While I think the introduction of the iPhone App is a great thing, I would love to see a Blackberry app come out as well, I know the iPhone is seemingly the trendy way to go, but I can't advocate buying something that expensive. In closing, thank you all for the job you do, It's nice to see someone combat the right wing and actually put a dent.

Kansas City, MO (Sirius)
I dig your show, but sometimes you go on long rants. I do like your show though.

Cathedral City, CA (XM)
I like listening to news shows, and your show focusing on glbt issues is a godsend. (yes, an agnostic used the word godsend..so sue me.) I look forward to hearing you whenever I can, so I downloaded the SiriusXM app for my iPhone.

Wilmer, AL (Sirius)
I've been listening for several years (as does my spouse). We enjoy your show very much.I have a helpful comment concerning your "pregnant pauses" which seem to irritate some listeners. Could you have unobtrusive music constantly playing? Something subtle... loud enough to let people know that their radios are still functioning... but at a low volume... as not to interfere with discussion... That might squelch all those lag naggers.

Tampa, FL (Sirius)
Listened today to the comment about pauses. What pauses? I never noticed. I'd rather have some pauses while you collect thoughts than listen the mindless chatter to fill every moment we often get on radio or TV.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sirius)
Michelangelo your show is fantastic! Thanks for presenting the issues in a very intelligent way! I'm totally hooked on your show! Keep the good stuff coming.

Lyman, SC (XM)
I thought it interesting that you had so many callers asking why you were discussing Perez Hilton and yet they kept discussing him. If you hadn't gotten any calls then wouldn't you have dropped the subject. Your callers may want to keep that in mind in future.

Kalamazoo, MI (Sirius)
Love the show, I think you do a nice job and have used many of your talking points in discussions with coworkers and friends. One sometimes annoying thing is that occasionally I can hear you (or someone else) typing in the background while talking to your listeners. It is not that I do not expect you to be typing, but it is the noise, it is just distracting.

Washington, DC (Sirius)
I love your show, Sirius has me as a subscriber only because of you. I find you a bit liberal for my taste but if I agreed with everything you said I would not listen to you. You changed my mind on hate crimes legislation. The one thing I would say, at 31, is that I feel entitled to all of my rights.

San Diego, CA (Sirius)
I think that Michelangelo is the HOTTEST man alive!!! I love hearing his voice!!! It is so sexy!!!!! I would love to be able to watch him on MSNBC!

Toledo, OH (Sirius)
I would love it if you were to somehow publish your daily show as a podcast, perhaps only for Sirius Premium subscribers. I don't know if it would be feasible, but I would listen to you more frequently if I could do so on my schedule.

Denver, CO (Sirius)
Great show, I try to listen as often as I can. I am a rabid liberal, and I appreciate you that you hold both sides accountable for their speech and actions. I wish you posted more videos on your YouTube channel of the show.

Minneapolis, MN (Sirius)
That Mike is one hottie! If I could, I would listen to him all night long talking with with his hot heavy breath right on the microphone. But my partner probably would be annoyed. I love your show! You're the best. That's why I bought a 3 year subscription. I sit in my car on my breaks when I am at work and listen to Michelangelo.

Oceanside, CA (Sirius)
I am an over the road truck driver and have been listening since "the beginning" and have learned a lot from you.I had commented on twitter about being only to handle you in small doses because sometimes I become so overwhelmed by it all I feel like I am going to have a heart attack. That is mainly because I am horrified at how we are progressing in activism and I feel powerless because I am stuck in a job I hate that only allows me to go home once a month for a couple days when everyone who knows me personally knows I am a loud mouthed outspoken individual who enjoys leading protests and being seen and heard! I believe I have never not agreed with any thing you have ever said on your show. Thank you for being there and in a way I feel like I kind of live a little vicariously through your show and your books.

Clips of the Week: "That’s the Quitter's Way Out"

Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music by our producer, David Guggenheim. This week: “That's the Quitter's Way Out”

Today's Show: Is Rockstar Energy Boycott Over?

Several activists, blogs and groups have accepted a settlement with Rockstar Energy Drink, owned by antigay Michael Savage's son, calling off their boycott. But others see it as hush money and are continuing on, including Aaron Baldwin whose Facebook group against the company was removed and who was also threatened with a lawsuit from from Rockstar.

Today, I'll get both sides, speaking with Bil Browning of Bilerico.com and Aaron Baldwin at 4:20 ET.

Today's Show: Why We Work

3:30 ET I'll speak with Alain de Botton, author of The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.

Today's Show: Pedal Power

At 4:30 ET I'll speak with Jeff Mapes author of Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing America Cities.

Bruno is a "mincing gay minstrel"

The reviews are in and essayist and author David Rakoff, who has a biting and rather phenomenal sense of humor, doesn't think it's funny at all, writing in Salon:

Baron Cohen's Brüno is a gay minstrel, in the most literal sense of the word. Just as the characters of the burnt-cork vaudevillians had, bound up ineluctably with their dark complexions, traits like being shiftless, lazy, and "a-feared of spooks" as their eyes bugged out in Neanderthal, superstitious terror, Brüno's homosexuality comes bundled up with a lot of unattractive software. He is an open hydrant of empty, venal ignorance, a fame-chasing, grandiose fucktard, all because he is a cockaholic (his term). The repeated pistoning of sucking dick has scrambled his brains, just as surely as a muddler pulverizes mint leaves. Make no mistake: It is gay sex that has made Brüno stupid. Perez Hilton has the sobriety, moral rectitude and class of Lewis Lapham by comparison.

Those Moral Christians

So now we learned Mr.Morality himself, Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, knew all about Senator John Ensign's extramarital affair and didn't think he should resign -- just end the affair, he told him, and just offer up some hush money. Oh, but he calls it "restitution" money. Don't you love Christian evangelical logic? Always has a way of excusing Republican politicians for things.

Today's Show: LGBT Refugees in Turkey

4:30ET: Neil Grungras, Founder & Executive Director of Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM), will join me to talk about the Perils facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) asylum seekers and refugees in Turkey. We will also discuss the “Unsafe Haven: The Security Challenges Facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Turkey”, a comprehensive account of the crushing burdens LGBT refugees face in a country that is increasingly a crossroads for mixed migration flows from Asia and Africa to Europe.

Today's Show: Our Primate Relatives

3:30ET: I will speak with Charles Siebert, Author of THE WAUCHULA WOODS ACCORD: Toward a New Understanding of Animals.

Today's Show: The Bullying of LGBT Youth

4:30ET: I will speak with Sirdeaner Walker, Mother of Carl Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old who took his own life April 6 after enduring constant bullying at his school in Springfield, Mass. She will testify Wednesday before the House subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities.

Today's Show: The Relocation Class

3:30ET: Peter Kilborn will join me, to talk about his new book,Next Stop. Reloville; Life Inside America’s New Rootless Professional Class.

Advocate Column: What's Up in Washington?

My latest Advocate column is out, focusing on the outrage over the DOMA brief and where the so-called gay leadership goes from here:

But the big question remains: How far will HRC go in keeping the pressure on the president, and did the cover the group provided early on give the administration the sense that the gay movement would just lie down and get trampled?

Today's Show: Women in War

3:30ET: I will speak with Helen Benedict, Author of The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women in Serving in Iraq.

More Backpedaling on DADT

And the White House thought a cocktail party might quell the anger.

Not a week after that photo-op event at the White House where the President promised to fulfill promises about promises -- some day -- they're back to giving out mixed messages and downright insulting and offensive reasons why we can't repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Joint chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen is now saying that he's not done any extensive review -- while Gates and Obama have implied their working on it -- and that he's there to "advise" the president "should" the policy "change." Admiral Mullen may be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff but he reports to the president. And if this White House cannot reign him in -- and give us a clear answer on repealing the law and when -- then this president is a weak man who cowers to his own Pentagon, and everyone, gay and straight, should be concerned about that.

Mullen clearly doesn't want to repeal the policy, but that's tough. He should not be expressing his reticence and undermining the president on national television. If he is allowed to do that we're in trouble, because maybe he's not undermining the president at all -- maybe he's expressing the White House view too. On CNN he talked of "changing" the policy, not repealing it, and says he has advised the president to do so in a "measured way" because he's worried about the military families of straight soldiers and the impact on them. As former Clinton adviser Richard Soccarides told Americablog, that is insulting -- what about the gay servicepeople and their families?

This is going to further outrage LGBT people across this country, and what is the White House going to do? Hold another cocktail party? The White House should soon realize that none of those people in that room last week has the power to quell the anger. Most of them are empty suits with no real base of support or power, just a lot of big donors, fundraisers, former executive directors and current directors of bloated but really not-so-influential (on the gay public) organizations -- and I could go into the names, and probably will, but it's too exhaustive at this point. The White House surely didn't like seeing the anger and disappointment played out in the media, and was also worried about the money -- big time -- coming from gay donors and threatening the DNC fundraiser, so they moved to do something to quell it. But if the White House doesn't stop the mixed messages and backpedaling, the damage will be irreversible. They will be sorry. And no cocktail party is going to solve it.

Saturday Back Talk

These are some of the listener survey comments I read this week on the show. If you haven't taken it, and are a listener to the show, please do so clicking through the link on the right. Thanks!


Punxsutawney, PA (Sirius)
DO NOT listen to the people who ask you to stop criticizing the president!!! Whether we like a political figure or not it is our civic responsibility to hold them accountable. We need our media to ask more questions and drink less cocktails...we need our activist groups to do the same. There is too much at stake. What we don't need is people complaining about accountability and asking us to wait our turn on the legislative agenda. I don't care if it has been 6 months, 6 days, or six years we must sustain pressure on the politicians that we helped to elect to avoid being ignored or brushed aside.

We all like Obama on the left; but, that doesn't mean he becomes a perfect politician...I think your tone on these issueas has been absolutely spot on! Don't stop asking the hard questions. We certainly don't need you to drink the Kool-Aid!

Weathersfield, VT (XM)
Generally I do think you are an intelligent guy, but I disagree with most of what you say. Your monologues can turn into prolonged whiny liberal rants at times.

Denver, CO (Sirius)
I enjoy your show when I hear it, but I find your dead air (gaps between thoughts) distracting.

Sugar Valley, GA (Sirius)
Since you have lots of trucker listeners, how about a short segment each week dedicated to gay and Lesbian and Trans truckers? I know we are out there and we need an outlet.

McAllen, TX (XM)
I really enjoy the show. I would like to hear differing opinions than those of michael from others there on the show. More of a debate style, if you will.

Eufaula, AL (Sirius)
It's interesting and ironic that your topic today is about health insurance. I recently got laid off and my insurance is about to expire. I qualify for COBRA, but at almost $500 a month that is not possible (remember I'm unemployed).

I have pre-existing conditions (hiv and high cholesterol) but am in great shape. I work out, eat right and take care of myself. No one will insure me. Apparently there is a clearing house for insurance underwriters and they can share my medical history in order to underwrite a policy for me, so it makes no difference who I try to go through.

I never really thought about this until it happened to me. They won't cover me AT ALL. I thought that I might have to wait 12 months before they would cover my pre-existing conditions, but they are all able to deny me coverage across the board.

West New York, NJ (XM)
The show is too PC and MS and many callers are so 'sensitive' when it comes to gay issues such as Perez Hilton and BRUNO. Get a backbone! Learn to laugh at yourselves! .

Goodlettesville, TN (Sirius)
Love the show. I find myself quoting it as a source quite often.

Longview, TX (XM)
Enjoy your show - as it gives me a chance to think through the day's issues. I'm still closeted and so your show and others really help me.

Palm Springs, CA (XM)
I think Michelangelo's news analysis is smart. I'd listen to him even if he weren't gay (but it's a bonus hearing someone like myself).

Wilton Manors, FL (Sirius)
I LOVE the sound effects - there should be more of them. They are truly hilarious!

San Jose, CA (Sirius)
I know others have brought this to your attention, but perhaps I can frame the feedback in another more constructive way. You really are a master at overemphasizing a point to an extent that one is almost compelled to yell back at the radio "SHUT THE FUCK UP ... WE GOT IT!" I really do love your show and look forward to listening. Keep up the great work Mike. (And no, don't tell me to change the channel and come back later. Just SHUT THE FUCK UP).

Salt Lake City, UT (Sirius)
I LOVE the show and look forward to hearing the news that would never be heard in Utah! Your insight, with a bright, well read spin. THANKS!

Fremont, CA (Sirius)
I love that you hold your ground when you feel a certain way. At the same time I feel that you are open minded enough to change your mind if someone can give you details of which you were unaware.

Deborah: The Video

Today I replayed my now classic discussion with the notorious "Deborah from Atlanta" from August 2007. She has become a bizarre star on the show ever since. Many new listeners, particularly XM listeners who only joined us this year, have asked and asked for us to replay the call. They hear the clips from her, particularly, "Mr. Michelangelo, Did your Momma give you that name?" and wondered where it came from. Well, today I replayed it so everyone would have some context -- and boy did the phones just get completely jammed. She's horrifying, insane, outrageous and immensely entertaining. Radio gold, as they say.

I talked about how she became such an instant legend on the show that a listener, Chris in Sacramento, made a video with some great images and a laugh track -- he was so horrified by her, particularly her comments on immigrants, since he is of Mexican descent -- because he felt it made her less dangerous and more ridiculous. Now everyone has written today wanting to see the video! So, here it is. Just one other thing: Deborah has tried to call the show ever since this call in the summer of 2007, using different names and trying to temper herself a bit. But we're always able to call her out.

Summer Beach-Read Book Blowout

It's time for our annual Summer Beach-Read Book Blowout, in which we give away books by authors who've appeared on the show throughout the year. We'll be giving away a book a day through the month of July (we've already given away two this week). We do this twice a year -- in December it's called our Holiday Book Bonanza, as many of you know.

How it works: I will throw out a question some time during the show about something we talked about in that hour of the show, and the first person to call in with the correct answer gets the book.

Today's book giveaway: Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virgina Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Have Sex, by Thomas Maier. The book received a lot of attention a couple of months ago when it was published. Maier reveals, among other things, how Masters and Johnson basically made up their cases of so-called conversion from homosexuality to heterosexuality, a faux study that did enormous damage and has been used by so-called "ex-gay" groups.

Today's Show: The Fundraiser from Hell

4:30ET: Francine Busby,a Democrat running for the 50th congressional congress, will join me, to talk about a lesbian fundraiser in San Diego held for her, that was raided by the police, with pepper spray, dogs and helicopter overhead. After the police attack on a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar, are we wondering what is happening in this country.

Today's Show: A Personal Story of Intersexuality

3:30ET: Thea Hillman will join me to talk about her memoir, INTERSEX;(For the lack of a better word).

Did DNC Fundraiser Really Rake in a Million Bucks?

The headlines on most of the gay blogs were pretty similar on Friday, describing the DNC gay fundraiser as having brought in a million dollars despite a boycott and protests. It was, supposedly, more money than last year, proof positive that lashing out against fundraisers isn't going to work, and a message to the pesky blogosphere: Just give up! Many a commenter and some bloggers themselves took it hard, beside themselves that all of their organizing apparently just didn't work. No matter that many big names pulled out of the fundraiser, the DNC was supposedly still able to fill its coffers.

But is that really true? All the headlines and links were based on one story, with one unnamed source. The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, in a report about the event itself and the protests outside, reported that a "Democratic Party source" told her that the fundraiser brought in a million dollars, supposedly 250K more than last year's supposed 750K, a number to which she also gave no attribution but which we can assume came from the same source.

This claim -- and it was a claim, not an on-the-record fact backed up with any presented data -- was actually buried in Eleveld's story, so I am in no way charging that ace reporter and colleague Eleveld, who I have on the show a lot, was overblowing it. The headline led with the million dollar quote -- without saying it was a "claim" or came from a "source" -- and whoever did that at the Advocate bears some responsibility. And blogs and other sites linking to it could be a bit more discerning when linking to something just because of a headline, particularly if the claim itself is less than definitive.

Leaving aside the fact that, in a year in which a Democratic president is in office for the first time in 8 years -- and thus there are more people sucking up and wanting jobs and wanting to make contacts and thus would attend a fundraiser -- the one million dollar figure still raised the eyebrows of several Democratic Party insiders with whom I spoke.

That is particularly true since Andy Tobias, the openly gay treasurer of the DNC, was fretting about the event and complaining to people, according to three individuals who'd interacted with him and with whom I spoke in the days before the fundraiser (and I've spoken to several others who confirmed this to me after the fundraiser as well). Publicly, DNC officials and hosts like Barney Frank were keeping a stiff upper lip, trying to tamp down the power of the blogs and the influence of all those who dropped out of the fundraiser. But privately, Tobias had pretty much thrown in the towel on the event.

There was no official response in Eleveld's story from the DNC itself -- no line like, "the DNC would not confirm the amount" -- so we can pretty much assume her "Democratic Party" source is inside the DNC, giving her the info on background and thus not giving any on-the-record comment confirming or denying. (If the source was not in the DNC, after all, she'd likely have gone to the DNC for official comment.) And who would that source be inside the DNC? If it were Andy Tobias himself, it wouldn't exactly be an unbiased source. I'd want much more information to back up the figures. The same goes if it were any of his underlings. And if the figure is accurate, why not just say it on-the-record? Why not at least allow Eleveld to attribute "a DNC source" -- if indeed it is -- even if it's on background and not for attribution, rather than "a Democratic Party" source? Why keep it so distanced?

When I contacted the DNC's LGBT fundraising director, Tom Petrillo, for confirmation of the one million dollar amount, he bumped me up after a day to press office, where Caroline Ciccone took another day to get back to me, only to tell me that the DNC would not confirm the one million dollar amount and said the DNC doesn't confirm fundraising event figures. But in searching around and looking at the coverage of other fundraisers, I found this story, which, for example, attributes Obama's bringing in 3 million dollars at an event recently to DNC "officials." And this one has many details and implies they came from the DNC. At the very least, the DNC doesn't seem to want to be so distanced from the reporting on the numbers in these stories.

Several Democratic insiders tell me that DNC officials have much latitude in moving money around and attributing funds from other fundraisers -- or funds from regular donors, including members of the DNC's LGBT Leadership Council, who donate in increments throughout the year -- to this fundraiser to swell the numbers. I offered some of this analysis on the show on Friday, raising skepticism about the reports on the blogs, after having spoken to one Democratic insider. But over the past few days I've spoken to several other people familiar with fundraising and the DNC who expressed skepticism. Pam Spaulding as well has spoken to an insider about this in an update to her post.

DNC officials can apparently make it look like they made one million dollars even if they only made 250K from the event.

Questions I have for the DNC include these: Did all of the one million dollars come from this fundraiser? How many people are members of the LGBT Leadership Council, and are their donations throughout the year included in this fundraiser? What is the annual dues structure? Don't they then get "comped" to the dinner because they've payed their dues throughout the year? How many people who were not members of the Leadership Council dropped out of the dinner, and what amount of money did that account for? Are you counting all of the LGBT money raised throughout the year in the dinner? How much of the one million is straight money and how much is gay money?

More questions: Why didn't you fill that room at the Mandarin Oriental and how many at the dinner were comped? Weren't all the elected officials comped, and weren't all those used in the fundraising letter -- those names that didn't drop out -- comped? How many people actually paid for the dinner and how many maxed out in contributions, paying 30K? How many paid the minimum of 1000 dollars? Does the treasurer have the authority to raise money and then apply it internally to wherever he would like it to sit? Does every donor whose money was applied to the event know that their money was applied to an LGBT-specific event? Has all of the money been brought in, or is the one million dollars including pledges or future dues of the LGBT Leadership Council members? How many attendees asked for a refund? Would the DNC provide such a refund? When is the next LGBT-specific fundraising event, since this was so record-smashing successful?

I invited Tom Petrillo to come on the show so I could discuss such issues, but as I said, he bumped up to the press office and the DNC's response ended there.

So all we have to go on is Eleveld's source -- a source so eager to report the earnings to her that she was able to get it in a story the morning following the fundraiser -- and an email letter that Andy Tobias apparently sent around to donors/attendees after the event. What is telling about the letter is that Tobias doesn't say what a huge, record-breaking, amazing success the event supposedly was, nor mention that it brought in more than last year, if indeed that is true. You'd think that if it did do so well, even if he didn't want to give out the figures, he'd spend more time talking about how it did better in spite of the protests, or at least that it was a huge success, and less time talking about grilled cheese sandwiches.

We now need a confirmation of the one million dollar number from the DNC, on the record, with a clear breakdown of where the money comes from. With the absence of that no one should assume this fundraiser did well at all, as all of the evidence -- and the statements from Tobias to various people before the fundraiser -- points in the opposite direction. People who want to pressure the Democrats should continue to target the DNC fundraisers since it clearly really hit a nerve, to the point where they had to spin something out immediately and go so far with the numbers -- like the Iranian ayatollahs -- in an attempt to nip any revolution in the bud, even though it's now raised many more questions.

And there must be a long list of DNC LGBT fundraisers coming up. After all, if this one did so well you'd think the DNC is planning dozens of them across the country in coming months, right?

UPDATE: I should have included that Dan Savage had expressed his skepticism as well, posting his observations in two different posts immediately after the event. And Americablog discussed rumors that the event only brought in $250,000 and notes that the FEC reports next month will tell us more.