In Solidarity with MSA President Chris Armstrong

I oppose the harassment that Chris Armstrong, the elected student leader of the University of Michigan Student Assembly, is being subjected to by a state official.

I fully subscribe to the University of Michigan statement of support on his behalf.

I applaud Anderson Cooper's reporting on this topic and his open confrontation of Chris Armstrong's harasser.



Support Chris Armstrong by signing an online petition here. Let Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox know that Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell's behavior is unacceptable.

Also, please consider donating to the Spectrum Center, the University of Michigan's LGBT Student Center on campus. You can give by accessing an electronic donation link on the Spectrum Center home page. No amount is too small.

You can also give to the Spectrum Center's DOUBLE THE IMPACT Campaign at:
http://www.crowdrise.com/spectrumcenter

Lola Does Saugatuck, Michigan, with the Feast of Fun!

Lola von Miramar had the most wonderful time with her friends Fausto Fernós and Marc Felion of the Feast of Fun last weekend in Saugatuck, Michigan! Listen to this podcast in which we talk about our exploits, particularly our experience attending a cabaret show by the extraordinary Miss Coco Peru! (See my review here.)

Here's a photo of me with the lovely Miss Coco!



For more photos go here!

We also recorded some videos:


Greetings from Saugatuck


Monarch Butterfly Feeding from a Flower


Larry Is Mad at Himself

Lola lee "Uñas pintadas de azul"

Panel in Los Angeles on August 6!

(Click on image to see larger view.)

Please join us at this panel at the annual conference of the Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE) on Friday, August 6, at 9:45 am! The 2010 conference will be held at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, CA.

Eating Patacones in Ecuador!

Lola von Miramar has the most delightful friends!!!! Maxi and Beto indulge in delicious patacones inspired by Lola's video "Behind the Scenes on 'How to Make Tostones,'" which Lola filmed with her fabulous friends Saltina (Fausto Fernós) and Daphne Dumont (Marc Felion) of the Feast of Fun podcast!



("How to Make Tostones" is still in postproduction but promises to be on YouTube by the end of the summer!)

Maxi and Beto are engaged and just announced their plans to marry in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where gay marriage is now legal. ¡Qué vivan Max y Beto! ¡Qué viva la Argentina! ¡Y qué vivan los tostones!

Love,

Your always adoring Lola von Miramar
Mistress of the Tostones Universe

How To Do Drag!

Lola von Miramar's dear friends Fausto Fernós and Marc Felion of the Feast of Fun podcast introduced Lola to the oh so fabulous Blanche Babcock, a real mistress of the art of drag! Blanche has wonderful videos on YouTube as well as a lovely blog. The video above offers an introduction explaining some of the basic products you will need. Make sure to see other videos by Blanche such as one on how to apply foundation and contour (the first of a three-part series) and one titled "How to Do Drag Makeup on the Cheap."

While searching on the web for advice, Lola von Miramar came upon the fantastic videos of Janet from Janet's Closet! Janet's cross-dressing emporium is located in Wyandotte, Michigan, in the Detroit metro area, and shares the building with a car engine shop! Hear Janet explain her philosophy about female transformation and give basic tips for makeup! This is the first of a nine-part series (although parts three and four seem to be missing). She carries out a transformation of the Puerto Rican model Jasmine!



Lola has learned so much with Blanche and Janet! There are also many other wonderful YouTube tutorials such as the one by the very lovely British girl Nic (pixiwoo on YouTube) of FashionFace.tv:



Lola says: Go have fun with drag!

Claridad Queer o LGBT (En Rojo)

Como muchos sabrán, el suplemento En Rojo del semanario puertorriqueño Claridad del 24 al 30 de junio de 2010 estuvo dedicado al tema de lo LGBT o queer en Puerto Rico.

Ya quitaron los artículos, aquí están los enlaces. Les recomiendo que descarguen los artículos, cuentos y poemas como PDF ya que Claridad no mantiene estos enlaces de manera permanente.

* Alida Millán Ferrer, "Convivir" (mensaje de la editora de En Rojo)

* Jorge Irizarry, "Somos parte del escenario" (mensaje del editor de este En Rojo)



* Lilliana Ramos Collado, "¿Arte queer? Ahora lo ves… ¡y ahora también lo ves!"



* Rubén Ríos Avila, "La lucha LHBTT: de las identidades a las ciudadanías"



* Salvador Vidal Ortiz, "Sebastián y su corporealidad" (entrevista con Sebastián Colón)



* Mickey Negrón, "Testimonio: El año que viene vuelvo a marchar y me llevo un casco"



* Rafah Acevedo, "NO tolero a los gays"



* Jorge Irizarry, "Durmiendo con el enemigo"



* Ángel Antonio Ruiz, "Transqüiar: el vacío de la identidad absoluta y la reafirmación de la existencia"

* Mercedes Garriga, "Nietzche y la deconstrucción de la moralidad"



* Luis Negrón, "Mucho más de lo que se piensa: Nuevo cine queer puertorriqueño"



* Luis Negrón, "Por Guayama" (cuento)



* Aixa Ardín, "Me gusta cuando el pan"

* Rubén Rolando Solla, "Puro teatro"

* Rubén Rolando Solla, "Calambre"

Como sabrán, el número también produjo debates feroces. Aquí un ejemplo:

* Yolanda Martínez-San Miguel, "El EnRojo Queer, y las dificultades del apalabramiento"

* Lilliana Ramos Collado, "EnRojo Queer: Las inclusiones y las exclusiones siempre son políticas"

* Juan Carlos Quintero-Herencia, "Volver sobre lo negativo"