Israeli Artist - Yehonathan Gatro

Seldom we see artist who were brave enough to come out of the closet and tell the world who they really are, mostly try to hide their secret, but eventually would be the subject of tabloids and blind items that either make or break their careers.

To those brothers and sisters who were brave enough, congratulations and the real meaning of freedom is really enjoyed.

I came across this artist in Facebook by chance and I was amazed and inspired by his story. He is an Israeli (never thought that GLTB community in Israel is alive, thriving and open!) named Yehonathan Gatro.

He started his show business career pretending that he is straight, singing and acting both live and on TV. Until he decided to find himself by going to LA, and after a few years returned to his home country and made a gay-themed MTV that shocked many of his friends, acquaintances, the public and fans. Nevertheless, he came out victorious and his music career and TV Series (gay-themed also ala Queer-As- Folk) became a hit. His music is being played at discos and parties, I myself tried to download most of them (through YOU TUBE)and enjoying playing them in my room.

I like listening to it while working out, or just simply like to uplift my spirit, sometimes dancing to it, the techno-house beat would surely make one stomp his feet.
The lyrics also is so meaningful and I am sure these comes from his own personal experiences which is great.

I have a list of people I would like to meet in my lifetime and I surely will include Yehonathan in that list. I am in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, well, Israel is not that far away.

The aptly-titled “My Turn” is Yehonathan’s first, full-length English album and EP and debuts in May of this year. His video of “Just Another Summer” receives its worldwide premiere on Logo. Yehonathan is introduced to America as the cover man and featured interview in Instinct Magazine’s May issue.

Surely this man will go places as he has the determination. I, too, maybe someday will have the same achievement, maybe in another field, who knows, we gay people are determined, industrious and talented bunch.

Missing You

I miss you, so much, it hurts.
I live from day to day without you, the memory of you haunts me.
Your eyes, your voice, your face.
You embraces, your sweet kisses, you sleeping beside me.
Me, watching you just lying there, like an angel.
Breathing so gently, so peaceful.
Have you dreamt of me?
Cause I have been dreaming of you too, when I sleep.
Alone, on our bed.
Everyday.
I miss you, so much, and I am aching.
My whole body is longing, and my soul is dying.
Will I ever see you again?
I am only to hope, with all my heart and prayer.

My Bestfriends

I miss my bestfriends, dearly. I miss our long talks that never seem to end. Specially in times like these, they always make me feel a lot better eventhough you'll hear the harshest and the truest words that hurt, and yet, like a stone that hits you in the head, brings me back to my senses and they are always there to help me start all over again.

See you soon guys.

Lie To Me

Lie, while you're even early
Deny, that you're in any hurry
Cry, and tell me not to worry
'Cause what I don't know, is never gonna hurt me

Breathe, now baby don't feel guilty
Deceive me, then just walk away
Leave me, the truth will only kill me
It's gotta be, it's gotta be this way

One more bad excuse
Before you turn me lose
Give me something to remember you by
Couldn't you offer me
A little dishonesty
Promise me you'll try
You'll lie to me

Go, your plane is not gonna stay
Slow, so I can take it in
And so you say you'll see me later
When you know you won't see me again

Please before you let go of me
Take me one more time
Appease me, tell me that you love me
That you haven't gone and change your mind

One more bad excuse
Before you turn me lose
Give me something to remember you by
Couldn't you offer me
A little dishonesty
Promise me you'll try
You'll lie to me

Lie, while you're even early
Deny, that you're in any hurry
Cry, and tell me not to worry
'Cause what I don't know, is never gonna hurt me

One more bad excuse
Before you turn me lose
Give me something to remember you by
Couldn't you offer me
A little dishonesty
Promise me you'll try
You'll lie to me

- Shane Mack (from the movie "Shelter")

To The Stranger

Passing stranger! You do not know
how longingly I look upon you,
you must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking
(it comes to me as a dream)

I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,
all I recall'd as we flit by each other,
fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,

you grew up with me, were a boy with me,
or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you,
your body has become not yours only
nor left my body mine only,

you give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh as we pass,
you take of my beard, breast, hands in return,

I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you
when I sit alone or wake at night, alone
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again
I am to see to it
I do not lose you.

- Walt Whitman

(to Ghassan)

11 Minutes - Paulo Coelho

I just read another Paulo Coelho masterpiece and as Wikipedia summarizes:

"Maria, from the interior of Brazil, goes to seek her fortune in Switzerland, only to find that reality is harsher than she expected and she ends up working in a brothel on Rue de Berne, the heart of Geneva's red-light district. The book deals with issues surrounding sex and sexuality, such as prostitution, and sacred sex in the context of love. Because of its graphic descriptions, the novel has been described as "erotic".

Maria is on journey to find what true love is but ends up letting her own life guide her. She enters a life that leads her down the path of sexual awakenings and almost leads to her self-destruction when she is introduced to all sides of sexual experience. When she has given up hope to find true love she meets a painter with whom she falls in love. And she must now choose where she is to take her life. Either to let it lead her or finally take control of her life and end this subtle self-destructive life she is leading. Just like many of Coelho's books, this book is also about a journey of self-discovery and sensitively explores the sacred nature of sex and love and invites us to confront our own prejudices and demons and embrace our own "inner light."



Also, in the story Maria concluded that it takes 11 minutes for a man and a woman to copulate till they reach climax thus the title.

I finished the book in a day for I found it hard to put down as I go deep into the story I find myself in Maria's shoes and had a recall of what I have been through. There were many instances that Maria's experiences were quite similar to what I have encountered during my sexual awakenings, naiveness, experimentation and curiosity.

The price I had to pay, the feeling of loss and shame, and yet the clarity of all reasons these things were done. The search for acceptance and love, of a person to love amidst all the chaos.

I won't tell about the ending, so as not to spoil it, but like Maria, quite similarly, I have yet to come home and hopefully find that one person, one particular person who would see the inner-light in me, would see more than the facade, but through me and see that one lonely soul that is waiting to be set free.

Why Do We Shout In Anger?

A saint asked his disciples, 'Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'

'But, why shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.

Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'

'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'