Panti Bliss on Homophobia & Orlando

(via ILGA Europe, hat tip to J.M.G.)

The Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss, rocking the European Equality Gala 2016 in Brussels, Belgium. 

Button for Belgium

On Monday we experienced yet another senseless case of violence, this time in Belgium. The terrorist organisation ISIS struck in Brussels and other places killing 34 and wounding more than 200.

I got a message from my dear old friend Kahvy Smith informing me that he has made special buttons to commemorate for the victims of terrorism and show support for Belgium at this time when it is under attack. Next time it may be our own country. 

Although I myself do not pray I will wear the button and in my mind convert "pray for" to "think of".

If you would like your own button to support Belgium and the Belgians you can grab your button for Belgium at The Starlight Ballroom. (SLurl). They are free of charge!

Zesentwintig Weer

"The cuteness that is Guyke"™

In Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, they have an age-old tradition among the Flemish people which reminds me very much of SecondLife. 

The people of Flanders speak a Belgian variety of Dutch called "tussentaal". In the local culture and language no one is ever recognized as being older than twenty-six, any age after that is referred to as "zesentwintig weer" (twenty-six again).

Today we celebrate the twenty-sixth again birthday in first life of The cuteness that is Guyke™, the wonderful, charming and loving man that brought so much happiness to Ars and my life. (Well - to be quite honest - some grey hairs and teeth grinding also but lets not delve in that on this festive day)

Gefeliciteerd met je zesentwintigste weer verjaardag, mijn liefste Guykechen!

Have a wonderful birthday, love you loads and bunches!

(...and of course there really is no such tradition, I just made it up!)