No Gays on Stage: School Cancels Rent

Via Queerty, a high school principal bans the school's production of Rent. Not because of the drug use of one of the key characters, but because there are homosexuals in it. Never mind that the most stable romantic relationship portrayed in the show was between two gay men (did the principal even SEE Rent?). Here's an account from an alumnus of the school:

Mrs. Asrani (the principal) is firmly against the portrayal of
homosexual characters in RENT, despite the fact that all displays of
affection have already been edited out of our script. Of course, a gay
couple kissing on stage should not be inherently more offensive than a
straight couple kissing, but that's beside the point (sort of). The
fact that the administration would not even allow a positive PORTRAYAL
of these gay characters, whose romantic tendencies have already been
neutered in Musical Theater International's "RENT: School Edition", is
appalling.

Maybe the principal would be happier with a play about dysfunctional straight couples, like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Oh wait, there's a gay in that one too. But then again, he's conflicted and closeted. So maybe that's okay.

Foul Ball: Nationals Welch on their Rent

Not only have the Nationals baseball team refused to pay $3.5 million in rent owed to DC, they want the ity to pay them $100,000 per day in damages.

And this tid bit is unearthed by Sean:

The Nationals owners have already been through a round of arbitration over ballpark costs, including over a demand that the city pay for the team's uniforms. The arbitrator ruled in the city's favor, but since then some city officials have privately expressed increasing frustration over the family's stands.

Folks, these are my tax dollars we're talking about here. Meanwhile there are dozens of city volunteer arts organizations longing for a public, affordable space to perform in the city, in vain.

Any desire I've had to go see a ball game (admittedly, not that great to begin with) has been squashed.

I hope the city tells the Nationals what they can do with their ball bats. And tell 'em to do it sideways.

No Day But Today

"Give in to love, or live in fear..."

Several friends/readers of this blog have been going through the ups and downs of relationships. It put in me in mind of this song from Rent (because, as you know, everything I learned about life I learned on Broadway).

I dedicate it this morning to Stephen from Oz:

No Day But Today

An important lesson to remember, from the musical Rent (everything I learned about life I learned from Broadway). Sorry it's a dark clip and the singing starts about 2 minutes in.