History was made yesterday when Senator Barack Obama was elected the next president of the United States. Woohoo! Yeah we are pretty excited too!
However while we seemed to have finally conquered gender and racial divides, 3 states have seriously discriminated against LGBT Americans. Arizona and Florida have voted to ban gay marriage, and California has stripped the right to marry and will seek to permanently change the state constitution. Religious conservatives including the Mormon poured millions of dollars into a heinous campaign to see that Proposition 8 passes, and it is religious conservatives that continue the fuel the hatred and bigotry against the LGBT community.
Today is a sad day for me, for many of us. I am outraged, disappointed, and left feeling lost. We came to America to get away from religious tyranny, only to find ourselves right back where we started. Religious fanatics and christian fundamentalists, who have used the bible to justify everything from slavery to genocide, now interpret the text to as they see fit and continue to spew hatred from pulpits across the world.
So today will be bittersweet. While I am ecstatic that change will come with Mr. Obama, I am deeply disappointed that we have only come so far. The road to equality was never promised to be an easy one, but one we must never cease to pursue.
Focus On The Family, the evangelical group founded by James Dobson, has been delving into those same pagan rituals they claim to have eradicated from the 'christian world' and has read their tarrot cards to send us a letter from the future. 2012 to be exact. In their letter, they predict a world of gay mahem! Here are some of the queer quotes.
The most far-reaching transformation of American society came from the Supreme Court’s stunning affirmation, in early 2010, that homosexual “marriage” was a “constitutional” right that had to be respected by all 50 states because laws barring same-sex “marriage” violated the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The Boy Scouts no longer exist as an organization. They chose to disband rather than be forced to obey the Supreme Court decision that they would have to hire homosexual scoutmasters and allow them to sleep in tents with young boys.
Elementary schools now include compulsory training in varieties of gender identity in Grade 1, including the goodness of homosexuality as one possible personal choice. Many parents tried to “opt out” their children from such sessions, but the courts have ruled they cannot do this, noting that education experts in the government have decided that such training is essential to children’s psychological health.
President Obama invited homosexual rights leaders from around the United States to join him at the White House as he signed an executive order directing all branches of the military to abandon their “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and to start actively recruiting homosexuals. As a result, homosexuals are now given special bonuses for enlisting in military service (to attempt to compensate for past discrimination), and all new recruits, and all active-duty and reserve personnel, are compelled to take many hours of “sensitivity training” to ensure they demonstrate positive attitudes toward those with different sexual orientations and practices.
This last quote obviously shows the organizations lack of education, as Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a law enacted by congress, not a military policy, that can only be repealed by congress, not done away with by an executive order. But I digress.
The list goes on, and on, and on, and on... Just doing a search of the 15-page document, the words homosexual is used 38 times and same-sex 9 times, averaging thrice per page that portrays how the LGBT community, under the leadership of President Obama, will distroy the world.
It dissappoints me, that a religion based on love and acceptance of humans as humans, has stooped to a new low. Spewing hatred from pulpits that many Americans seems to grasp as reality... Kind of like sheep.
We know we don't have to tell you how important this election is going to be. We we can tell you though, is in some areas you can start voting today! Our friends over at PFLAG National has sent us information on the states that have opened the polls early.
Colorado: Early voting begins today and ends October 31. Vote-by-mail applications msut be received by October 28 (via mail) or October 31 (in-person).
Florida: Early voting begins today and ends November 2. Vote-by-mail applications are due October 29.
Georgia: Early voting begins October 27 and ends October 31. Vote-by-mail applications are due by October 31.
Indiana: Early voting is arleady underway and ends November 3. Vote-by-mail applications are due by October 27.
Iowa: Early voting is already underway and ends November 1.
Maine: Early voting is already underway and ends on November 4.
Montana: Early voting is already underway and ends November 4. Vote-by-mail applications are due November 3.
Nevada: Early voting is already underway and ends on October 31. Vote-by-mail applications are due by October 28.
New Mexico: Early voting is already underway and ends November 1. Vote-by-mail applications must be received by October 31.
North Dakota: Early voting is already underway and ends on November 3.
Ohio: Early voting is already underway and ends November 3. Vote-by-mail applications must be received by November 1. Wisconsin: Early voting is already underway and ends on November 3.
Update: Several PFLAG readers have pointed out that other states are now voting, too. In Tennessee, early voting has started, and lasts until October 30. In Arizona, which is facing a divisive anti-gay amendment, voting is also already taking place. And in The District of Columbia, early voting started on October 20.
Stay tuned to the PFLAG blog for more information as other states begin early voting in the days ahead. And, whether you vote now or vote on November 4, just remember to vote . . . please.
If you are still undecided you can check out cnn.com/politics for all the latest coverage and candidate profiles and thier positions. Whatever you do, don't pass up this opportunity to make history!
As if from an Eytan Fox film, an incredible and tragic story is unfolding this week in Israel. A 33-year-old Palestinian man is pleading the High Court of Israel to be granted permanent residency in Israel with his partner of nine years after receiving death threats from his family and others in his West Bank hometown village of Tamon. "The sanctity of life is beyond reproach and needs no evidence to back it up. A human life must be protected without distention of race or creed," said the petition. The Court's decision has not yet been published.
Israel, known as the 'gay mecca' of the world, is known from granting asylum to LGBT middle easterners with and without the governments knowlege, predominately Palestinians because of their proximity. Like the man mentioned above, violence against those who are, or even perceived to be homosexual in the Arab world has been escalating out of control, so much so that the US military has acknowledged the threat against LGBT Iragis. Though homosexuality was legal in Iraq under Sadam Hussein, it was outlawed in 2001 because of religious pressure and has since created a widespread cleansing by militia groups, slaying boys as young as 12 to rid the percieved homosexuality. Many organizations are currenlty working to aid LGBT middle easterners to find asylum elsewhere.
Eytan Fox is an Israeli film director that has tackled issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, gay rights, and life in Israel. His latest film "The Bubble", both beautiful and tragic, follows a group of friends in Tel-Aviv, and the love story of a gay Palestinian and an Israeli soldier. The Bubble, Jossi & Jagger, and Walking On Water are all available in the US and are a must see!
My Normal Gay Life had the privilege this week to take some time out with San Diego's Rich Sweeney. Rich will be competing on the fifth season of Bravo TV's hit show Top Chef.
"I was in the closet until I was 18 and moved to NYC. My mom was the first person I told - she was amazing! Then I told my dad & older sister, who were also both supportive," He explains. "Don't get me wrong, I have not always been comfortable in my own skin, but I have gradually grown into being more & more comfortable - and a LOT of that increased self-confidence stems from not only a totally supportive family and a network of great friends."
And on defining normal...
"Normal is whatever YOU make of it...Defining your own normal isn't just coming to grips with your sexuality or who you go to bed with or who you're attracted to. Normal is about being comfortable in your own skin - and that's different for everyone, gay or straight."
You can check out the entire interview here. Be sure to check back as we will be doing weekly recaps on Rich's success on the show.
The 2007 Sundance film hit San Diego last week at Kensington's Landmark Theatre. Starring Chad Allen, Robert Gant, and Judith Light, the film tackles the Ex-Gay issue matter-of-factly. Mark (Allen) is a troubled man sent on a paid vacation to the Geneses House, and ex-gay commune, in hopes he will pray away the gay and be cured of his "sexual brokenness".
While Maureen Hart of the Chicago Tribune so scathingly calls the movie "a melodrama better suited to the Logo Channel than to theaters" and rating at only 2.5 stars, movie-goers have rated it an 8.8 out of ten on IMDB. It looks like Maureen obviously wasn't watching the same movie.
The wrenching story is sure to hit home for many of us, and will definitely become part of everyone's collection of must see's.
With all of the recent campaigns to end meth use, especially toward gays, this one leaves me feeling a little confused and possible accosted. What do you think? Has this crossed the line?
Well this isn't so much of a quote, rather a long homophobic rant from NBC exec's. This comes from our buddies over at AfterElton.com that uncovered the non-coverage of one olympic athlete's struggle to define normal.
NBCLACKEY: Hey, Boss! Got a great story for tonight’s Oly coverage!
NBCHONCHO: Is it something else about Phelps!Woo hoo!
NBCHONCHO: Is it something else about Phelps!Woo hoo! NBCLACKEY: Um, no. He left Beijing already. NBCHONCHO: Oh. :-( What then? NBCLACKEY: On Matthew Mitcham’s last dive during the Men’s 10 M springboard-- NBCHONCHO: Men’s what? NBCLACKEY: 10 M springboard. You know, diving. NBCHONCHO: Oh. Don’t really like that. NBCLACKEY: Really? Why? NBCHONCHO: Speedos NBCLACKEY: ??? NBCHONCHO: Speedos are too revealing. NBCLACKEY: I see. You must hate women’s beach volleyball then. NBCHONCHO: ??? NBCLACKEY: Nevermind. NBCHONCHO: With speedos u see all of a guy’s junk. Nasty NBCHONCHO: And gay. Besides 10 m isn’t that high. Not impressed. My ten year old can do that. NBCLACKEY: Um, that’s meters, not feet. NBCHONCHO: Oh, yeah. Still what is that? Fifteen feet? NBCLACKEY: Actually, its more than double that. 32 feet.
Fox News has reported today that our favorite on-again, off-again, could-be-kinda-maybe 'mo has fathered twin boys via surrogacy.
"Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children."
Congrats Ricky! You'll always be my schoolboy crush.
My Normal Gay Life had the privilege this week to take some time out with San Diego's Rich Sweeney. Rich 
The 2007 Sundance film hit San Diego last week at Kensington's Landmark Theatre. Starring Chad Allen, Robert Gant, and Judith Light, the film tackles the Ex-Gay issue matter-of-factly. Mark (Allen) is a troubled man sent on a paid 
Fox News has 
