a guy named dave.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

2009-05-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-Dylan Thomas

Another ending is coming.

2009-05-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

There is a lot going on, but I haven't had much to say about it. Things are quieter. I get nervous when things are quiet. But it's okay. School is ending. I have to write a few papers and take a few tests, and then I'm done. I don't know what is next. I'm not too worried about that.

The Prop 8 decision will be out soon. Probably this week. I need to get my papers done so I can be prepared to put a lot of time into that. Anyway, that's that. I just want things to be.

Yeah.

Daily Bruin TV - 1FEST

2009-04-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

It's simple, really.

2009-04-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Work harder.

What is this?

2009-04-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.1FEST.org

Have you added the facebook event page yet?

Tehehe.

These boys.

2009-04-08T00:12:00.000-07:00

They send me these little notes with nice words. Thanks for those. You're the life of all of this.

More to do.

11 days.

2009-04-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Is it really all coming together?

1FEST: The Day We Came Together

Don't rest on your laurels. Work harder.

Maples and birches and tamaracks.

2009-04-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

I just want these kids to understand, this has nothing to do with you, and it certainly has nothing to do with me. It may very well be that the results of our actions will never see the light of day here in this time or in this place. It's the boys and the girls who exist far away in time and space that we're working for. I just want these kids to understand, the work we are doing here is important.

...
We're planting our seeds. Maples and birches and tamaracks... It's all coming together.

Shit. Fuck. Flow.

2009-04-01T19:16:00.001-07:00

Shits busy. Working hard. 1FEST is real. It's coming in 18 days. Can't really believe that. Hustle. Flow. Up. Down. Cum. Down. Hustle. Lobby. Shake. Get shit done. Sleep on the side. Often let go.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself when this is all said and done. I guess graduating will be my new project. I bought books for classes for the quarter. I think I'll read them this time. I'm taking a class called "Collective Behavior and Social Movements." Fitting. Maybe I'll have more time to be quiet. Doubt it. And I'm not certain that would make me happy.

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

2009-03-14T23:18:00.001-07:00

At this very time, the constitutionality of Proposition 8 is being decided by the Supreme Court of California. We know this. And if the Court should uphold Proposition 8, hundreds of thousands of young people will flood the streets of California the very day the decision is released. We know this as well.

The time is now to prepare for the real possibility that we will soon be protesting and marching. We must do everything in our power to uphold the values of non-violent civil disobedience, and avoid, at all costs, the creation of riots. We will not have this. That is why it is crucial that we, the young leaders of our diverse communities, create opportunities to train and inform all people of their civil rights and how they can act in a way that will protect the safety of themselves and those around them. It is imperative these trainings take place immediately, and that they be especially targeted to our youth who will be most vulnerable to harm and arrest during a potential protest.

Right now, trainings are being organized to take place at UCLA and in Los Angeles. These trainings need to take place at your school and in your area. If you are an organizer in any capacity-- and you are-- get in touch with groups like Ruckus Society, National Lawyers Guild, and ACLU for more information and direct contacts. Step up. Make this happen.

If you think this is unnecessary, I'd like to remind you of November 6, 2008...

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."
-Mother Teresa.

"Students gather to fight Prop. 8"

2009-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Daily Bruin covered 1FEST's presence at the Milk screenings, as well as the success of the planning meeting held this week. Check out the article here:

Dave Valk says he is leading a charge.

The fourth-year political science and sociology student is the director of Won Together, a student-run initiative in support of marriage equality in California and the group hosting 1FEST on April 19.

1FEST, currently awaiting funding from the undergraduate student government and the Campus Events Commission, aims to bring together the energy and activism of numerous campus student groups, along with that of students from all over California, and channel it into a single monumental movement for equal rights to marriage.

With an eye on the California Supreme Court proceedings regarding the legality of Proposition 8, Valk and his staff are working on spreading the word about their cause and event.

Won Together members spoke at public screenings of “Milk” on Thursday and Friday nights about the importance of the student voice in support of marriage equality. They collected lists of students who were interested in getting involved; around 200 students signed up, Valk said.

Read the rest here...

So it's comin along!

UCLA Milk Screenings

2009-03-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

Won Together, the organization that is putting on 1FEST at UCLA, was given this incredible opportunity at UCLA last week. We were invited to speak after the four showings of Milk. Each showing was packed with students, and it was PERFECT timing to invite students to get involved in the planning of 1FEST. Of course, I was was thrilled. We signed up over 200 kiddos and personally invited all to our meeting. Just two days later, we met at the LGBT Center at UCLA and the room was PACKED. It was great new energy for 1FEST, and we were able to break up our committees and really get this going. If you're a student in CA-- even if you're not at UCLA!-- and want to get involved in 1FEST, let me know!!

The whole process was... well, it took a lot... but very worth it. Just made us realize-- this whole thing is unstoppable. This whole idea-- of not just bringing together students across communities at UCLA, but across CA. It's exciting... it's overwhelming... it's all coming together...

Been back in LA with the Beautiful Skies.

2009-03-12T19:01:00.001-07:00

I walk home from UCLA to Santa Monica almost religiously these days. I love walking under the freeway-pass and yelling out ideas as the screaming cars pass by and the people on the benches look at me like I'm crazy. It's the only thing that makes me feel incredibly sane these days.

It's finals week now. I'm wrapped up in planning for 1FEST. I should tell you more about that. Some cool stuff has happened. Major ups. Major lessons in coordination and organization. All in all it's been good. But I'm stressed about it-- as I should be-- especially with the impending Prop 8 decision coming out. I guess you could say there's a lot on my mind...

Seattle.

2009-02-19T00:31:00.000-08:00

Took a trip up to Seattle for the long weekend to see my brother. The mad-dash to make it to the airport is the norm-- I'm never on time. The flight was quick, and I loved watching the sun set over the horizon from so high above. Snapped a few shots, and it took me straight back to DC, straight back to London, straight back to Florence...

It looked just like a Rothko.

Seattle is this neat city, a "best-kept secret" as one guy put it. I had a lot of fun just roaming the streets and figuring out the downtown and making my way to the Public Market. The first thing I do when I get to a new city is try to figure out the public transportation system. I jump on board and try to guess where to get off once we're already on our way. It doesn't work as easily in New York.

I never know exactly where I'm going, but I figure, as long as you walk confidently like you do, you'll never have a problem getting there...

...

The fascinating thing about all of this...

2009-02-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

It's a movement. We know that. And it's exploding. We know that. And it's not just about marriage equality or gay rights. We know that.

When we broke through that line of police on November 5, and we made it to the top of that hill on Wilshire Boulevard, I remember looking back at the procession of 3,000 people or so and hearing the screaming and hollering and honking of the still cars that surrounded us. And I remember having to take a pause, and felt so together, and yet, so very alone. And all that could come to my mind was how I wondered, who were the boys and the girls that were around me that were going to take this moment and make something out of it? Who were the ones that would go on to tell this story with paintings and music and all the new books that would follow? So that's what I was thinking about. Not how we were moving toward Santa Monica Boulevard, but how we were moving toward something so big, that to this day, I can't even grasp what is coming our way. All I know is that it's coming.

Isn't that weird to think... that they are writing those songs and painting those paintings -- right now -- right as we speak!? So weird.

The language is changing. The music is changing. It's all changing. You can't really see it-- yet. But you sure as hell can feel it! (if you want to, that is)

1fest. April 19.

2009-02-08T17:07:00.001-08:00

I've been back in LA. Sunny days. Rainy days.

We developed a group at UCLA called Won Together, and we're bringing together students from different groups and communities to give em a platform to stand up for the LGBT community, esp after Prop 8. On top of this, there will be action booths so every community can bring to the table their important issues, and we can all support one another's causes. And to make this big, and even more special, we are trying to get MUSIC so this will be a real festival.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. I don't just want to find regular blah bands who are interested in promoting their iTunes. I want to find the legit, real-deal Bob Dylans out there who know that this is our movement, and this is our civil rights battle that we all are a part of. Do you know who those artists are? Signed, or unsigned... who are the voices that are going to bring everybody together??

So that's what I'm workin on. 24/7. The event is called 1fest, and it's scheduled for April 19. People from all over CA are already coordinating buses for this. Gotta get everyone in on this....

It's the music... the music will bring the people together... It's a music revolution. I truly believe that...

Music.

2009-02-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

The music. Will bring. The people. Together.
The music. Will save. The world. Forever.

FYI - It's cold in Boston...

2009-02-07T02:45:00.000-08:00

Hung out with friends from South Africa who live on this coast. Very mellow. It's frickin cold. Early morning cab to catch the first flight back. Wanna make it to Courage Camp.

Later NY.

2009-02-06T02:44:00.000-08:00

Last night we went to Brooklyn. That was the most rad shit I've done in a long time. We went to a bar where the door was hidden along some dark alleyway, and if I hadn't been with people who knew the area, I never would've known where to find it. The night was eventful. But we left early round 2 and caught a cab back to Manhattan. Off to Boston. I hear it's cold.

Trees in the Park.

2009-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Central Park.

2009-01-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

I asked if I could take her picture. She said, "Why?" I asked, "Why not?"

...

45th n 9th Ave.

2009-01-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

Took a bus up to NY. Then a cab. Gonna hang in Manhattan for a bit. Maybe head out to Brooklyn to see what's up. I'm thinkin a lot about this city. Is it for me? I wanna move out here, you know. Just another city to get on top of and add to the list. Makes me miss London and Cape Town a bit.

More Travel.

2009-01-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

It was incredible to be at the Mall for the inauguration. I can't tell you what it was like to be there, surrounded by so many people, all there to witness Barack Obama become our 44th President. I tell ya about it later. But for now... off to a few more cities before home...

...

HRC Inaugural Ball.

2009-01-25T03:01:00.000-08:00

Attended the HRC Inaugural Dinner as a writer for Queerty.com. Was pretty stoked about the opportunity and got to meet a lot of interesting people. I was twittering for them while there, and they will be posting my final wrap-up after. Lots of music and people in suits n ties. DC stuff.

...

Defy.

2009-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning from Washington, DC. I'm about to make my way to the lawn to watch Mr. Barack Hussein Obama become our 44th President. I will be sending updates all day via twitter for Queerty.com, and hope you'll follow along.

It's a beautiful, cold Washington day. A perfect day for an inauguration. And as our entire world fixates its eyes on this one stage, I can only hope we keep in mind the bigger picture that exists beyond our television screens. We have so much work to do. Only time will tell if words like change and hope will be relegated to the cheapened waste-baskets of history. But I'm hopeful. And I'm grateful. There are a lot of good people out there doing a lot of good things. And today is just another day to get up and celebrate our accomplishments, and recognize the challenges we are so blessed to have the opportunity to overcome, as one nation, won together.

But on that note, it is so important that we not just take this day in stride. We have so much work to do! So many conversations to have with new friends! We must not be too casual about our angst-- we, as a nation, have great struggles, so many phobias and misdirections that yearn to be overcome. And will choose to stand up everyday, to defy those who persist in negativity and shutter the voices who speak-up for a generation of positivity and love. So it's a good day, a strong day to celebrate the election of President Obama. Let's get to work.

Thank you Kevin for the picture :) Make your own at Obamicon.Me.