The tale begins with a young blonde-headed boy (“Frank”) born to a conservative family who just doesn’t seem to understand him. Frank is gay, leaves home and begins the adventure of a lifetime; one that will take him from dancing a carefree life in the clubs to performing at the “House of Boys” and onward through love and loss.

The House of Boys is best described as a gay club doubling as a brothel for those willing to pay for private shows (and favors) by the club’s “working boys.”

“Jake” is, by his own confession, a straight boy working in the club with whom Frank will share a room.

The blonde is smitten with Jake from the first night but Jake’s love of the boy will take longer to build.

As the movie unfolds, the seedier side of the club is made more evident as Frank observes Jake being led to the back room for a private show with a well-to-do designer from America who flies in once a month to spend time with the object of Frank’s affections. Angry and hurt, the young blonde bursts out of the house to spend a bit of time alone in the rain — but it’s now becoming a bit more obvious that Jake does have some feelings for Frank.

Even so, the two do not bond as a couple until, during a night out to watch a concern with two other friends, Frank passes out and Jake brings him back home to care for and watch over. That night, their love for one another takes on a whole new chapter as young Jake begins to accept that he has feelings for his roommate and admirer, Jake “making love” to the young blonde for the first time.

But this tale takes on a twist that I’d not foreseen coming.

During one of the evenings performances, a customer known as “snow” (a nickname given him for the drugs that he always has on hand, often used to barter for a bit of private time with the dancers) requests an audience with Frank. “Madam” (the club’s proprietor) gives in to Jake’s request that he be a part of the show in the back room with Frank that evening and the pair begin to dance for Snow. All’s well until Jake passes out and falls into a glass table, after Frank accompanies him to the hospital and the REAL LESSON of this movie begins to take on form.

As it turns out, the wealth American designer has infected Jake with the HIV virus and the disease has progressed to full-blown AIDS; Jake’s T-cell count is practically nonexistent as the doctors begin to test and prod, trying to save his life.

Kaposi’s sarcoma is eating the young man alive, appearing as lesions all over his body but in the eyes of young Frank, he is still the “beautiful Jake” that he first fell in love with. Frank stays by his side, through to the end.

I’d like to tell you that this was a movie with a fairy-tale ending of happy ever after. It isn’t but it’s most assuredly the tale of two young men who fall in love and see things through to the very end. It’s what love is truly all about; for better or worse.

Eventually, Frank and a young gal friend will take a trip to Morocco, a destination Jake had always wanted to see, to spread Jake’s ashes along the edge of the sea. Immediately after, a young man is heard off in the distance playing the guitar and singing, reminiscent of a Jake during happier and healthier times.

Only those with a stone-cold heart will fail to cry during the ending of this movie.

As the credits begin to build, some detailed information regarding the number of deaths (5000) during the first years of the AIDS crisis is shown on the screen. Twenty-five million would die from AIDS-related complications during the first 25 years with another two-million dying every year thereafter.

There have been more than 35-million deaths from the disease to date and another 2.5 million are newly diagnosed with HIV every year.

The fight is far from over.

Ever feel like screaming because everything you once knew is “off limits”? That’s me of recent…

Anyone following my rants on Facebook or even my blog entries for some time now should be able to easily see that I’ve allowed myself to become very cynical. Of course, that really shouldn’t be such a surprise when you work 40-plus hours a week in a job that is filled with tension, surrounded by people who are not happy themselves and who are always bitching and/or gossiping about others. (Yes, I work with a bunch of women. Even the most staunch among the female race will readily admit an office dominated by the “fairer sex” can and often is a VERY DIFFICULT environment to navigate within. I feel empathy for your menstruation cycles but Christ, MUST you take it out on every man alive when the bloody river rises — as it most certainly will each and every month?) {shakes-head}

So considering:

You might be thinking, “How strange for a comment such as the last one to be coming from Michael, a self-professed and registered Democrat who holds many among the Republican Party in disdain for pushing what he believes to be an irrationally religious and homophobic agenda.”

You’d be justified to ponder the why of this but the simple answer is, “It’s the politics of the extremists that are holding everyone hostage [today] and that is what truly disgusts me the most. “Partisan politics be damned; just do the fucking job we voted you in to do already!” That’s my message to the politicians.

In light of the above, I think it’s rather easy to understand why I have become so cynical in recent years.

I’m simply exhausted; tired of hearing people whose heads appear to be permanently fixated upon or thrust far up into their arses, who can’t seem to understand they shouldn’t take everything they hear “at face value.” All would be well-advised to do a little bit of studying; of our own history and of the values (not simply the rhetoric and self-professed values, but the REAL values held by those they have already elected or are considering for a seat of power).

We need to put in the work if we truly want to see the results we yearn for — and we need to FIRE the people in Washington, D.C. who do NOT have our own best interests at heart but rather, are yielding to those lobbying on behalf of businesses who truly don’t give a shit about anything but their own profit (regardless of the real costs, both in dollars and inasmuch as our civil rights are concerned – to the rest of us).

Certainly, none of what I’m saying should be coming as “news” to you and I know that this entry has, not surprisingly come off as yet another rant.

The rants are why I deactivated my Facebook account for a minimum of 6-months only recently. I’d grown weary of seeing links to alleged news about events or agendas at the federal level that only left me feeling angrier, dissatisfied and more hopeless than I was feeling in the moments just before I’d read the article.

In this fast-paced era where “news” travels in a millisecond, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or overcome with rage at a world that has seemingly “totally and hopelessly” spun out of control.

For that reason, I decided to pull the plug on one of the sources (Facebook) of my own frustration for a short six months. I’ll revisit the decision at the end of that period and will decide whether I want to reactivate the account. We shall see; meanwhile, I’ll blog from time to time and spend more of my energy trying to lose the weight I’ve gained over the years. The same weight I often complain about when long-lost friends see me for the first time in years. {laughs}

Namaste,
Michael

After all, if you “feel the need to judge”, you would fair better by taking their personal and uniquely individualistic characteristics into consideration — remembering that we ALL fall far short of perfection on any given day.

Of course, such advice is sometimes difficult to follow and far too often it falls on deaf ears.

Do I have a prejudice? Yes, I must [sadly] admit I’ve at least one.

Such a prejudice has been cultivated by many years of reading the “death to Americans” bullshit propaganda that usually comes out of the very countries where we purchase much of our raw oil (from the Middle East, etc.) Our money is desired but our presence and our very lives are seemingly held in disdain in these regions.

It infuriates me that we involve ourselves in the costly effort to liberate a people that has been EMBROILED in nothing but war and conflict for thousands of years.

I know the arguments. Not “all” of those within the region believe as we have come to see on the news or read about in the paper, magazines, etc. However, those whose sentiment is far different from the extremist factions that have come to represent their country, origins and in many cases, even faith have kept quiet (much the same as how, across the globe, we sometimes fail to see well-intentioned Christians or persons of other faiths call out the extremists within their/our own religions).

It’s disheartening and in the case of the Middle East, it’s made it very easy for me to develop what I preach against; a “prejudice.”

I’d like to think I’m better than this but when my anger is at its worst, I find myself lumping all who represent the population of “that region” into the same category, often referring to “them” as towel-heads. (It’s true and it’s beneath me.)

I’d like to say that I’ll outgrow this personal failing (and I honestly hope I can), but…

In the face of the vast numbers of “innocents” whose lives were lost as a consequence of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 — and as well, the senseless deaths of the many to follow in our haste to avenge “their” deaths and the death of our own “false sense of safety”… These losses have made it far too easy for me (and others like myself) to adopt an attitude of hatefulness and disdain for the very peoples whose most vocal have expressed distrust and hatred of the U.S. and its citizens.

And then I read about this and I am made to feel all the angrier.

[ NOTE: The article depicted at the above link seems to suggest that Ambassador Stevens was gay. I've found NOTHING, in a cursory search of the Internet, which seems to suggest this is in fact true. Not sure where they picked up that piece of information. The closest I've been able to come to making a connection between homosexuality and a U.S. Ambassador is the appointment of David Huebner (who is openly gay) as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand. ]

I was only 24 when Rodney and I began dating; he, four years older than myself.

He was the more mature of the both of us and made my 25th birthday the most memorable of ALL birthdays; before and after. (I’ll explain) He told me I needed to dress for the occasion; that he would pick me up for a surprise night out and that anything less than suit and tie would be “unacceptable.” My surprise destination was a HUGELY romantic restaurant that catered primarily to couples only (granted, all of the other couples were seemingly straight).

There were roses on the table with wine chilling off to the side when we arrived. The first course was served shortly after we were seated (our menu having been chosen by “my date” in advance of our evening). I was terribly nervous early on because this was indeed a fairy tale come true and all eyes “seemed” to be on us. (Hell, on the inside I was shaking like an earthquake that measured 8.5 on the Richter Scale!)

But I finally just let all of my nervousness go and rolled with it, for after all the effort he’d put into the night, Rodney DESERVED the appreciation such a display of love did warrant. (He got that appreciation and then some… but later in the evening!)

Sadly, we had one hurdle that was a constant; his damned boss who was a religious NUTCASE, always pressuring Rodney to become involved with his church. He had little success to this end so the boss pressured him to feel obligated to take an HIV test. You must understand, this guy was a Grade-A prick; homophobic, very detailed and cunning in how he would go about laying out his own brand of abuse and hate. (I always find it interesting when those with a deep disdain for those of us who are gay, veil their hate with the Bible and attempt to explain it away as “love and concern for their brothers and sisters.” Bullshit!) This is one of the reasons why I have such little tolerance for those who try to use their religious beliefs to justify their prejudice toward others, and CERTAINLY why I react as I do when others try to force their religious beliefs on myself and other LGBT persons.

The test, shockingly and unexpectedly came back positive. (I wouldn’t know it right away.) Rodney received the results and would share them with me a few days later, having agonized for days over how to even broach the subject — and the fateful decision he had already made.

I’ll remember THAT day forever because he called up and said, “We need to talk; I’ll be over in a few minutes.” Upon his arrival it was obvious he was in trouble, unsure of how to say what he needed to say. My heart sank as by then I’d pretty much figured out the stark, naked truth; that he was HIV-positive.

Neither of us had expected such an outcome. We’d gone into it with the certainty that all was fine and the only real concern for us was how to deal with whatever b.s. his jerk of a boss would sling in our direction next.

You might ask why we were so “certain” of the results. Rodney was the image of not only good health but great health; standing six foot two inches tall, lean and muscular with jet black hair and true-blue eyes (the color of blue most people can only achieve with color contacts today). I was slender but he was the more athletic of the two of us (even if we were both always on the move back then, never tiring of one another’s company and always active). Between he and I, I was probably the more sexually active of the two of us prior to our becoming involved with one another. He was always much more restrained whereas his sexual forays were concerned (while I was sowing my oats and earning the title of the city slut). Ugh! My only saving grace in those days was that I was generally very careful and got tested regularly. My everygrowing conquests would come to an abrupt halt after Rodney and I met; I was totally devoted to him. It NEVER occurred to either of us that he could be HIV-positive.

Everybody I’d seen with the disease LOOKED like they had a pallor of death hanging over them. It was seldom surprising to find out what their health status was when the topic came up (and yes, I know how dismissive and cynical that sounds; it isn’t meant to and I apologize if saying as much comes off as uncaring). I was doing a lot of volunteer work for the Dallas Gay Alliance and the AIDS Resource Center at the time; mostly because I had a lot of friends who had died as a consequence from, or were affected by, the disease. Remember, this was “before” much progress had been made on the drug front and the only treatment I can readily think of at the time was, AZT (the side-effects of which were truly rough). Most diagnosed with the disease were considered to have been given a death sentence as the discovery almost always came much too late.

I only tell you this to describe my own “frame of mind” as these test results were unfolding before my eyes and the fairy tale began to lose some of its luster.

Shamefully – and there really IS no other way to describe this moment – I was terrified when Rodney confirmed my suspicions and told me his test results had come back positive. The only thing I remember thinking at the time was, “What have we had done over the past year; have we [always] been careful or have there been a few lapses in judgment where I might have been exposed?” I was SCARED SHITLESS!

Then came the worst of it (and you thought it couldn’t get any worse?)… Shortly after telling me he was positive, Rodney said he’d made a decision. He didn’t wish to take any chances of exposing me (assuming I’d not been exposed already). We were to break up and he would be moving back home with his family, out of state. As he “informed me of the decisions he’d already reached for the both of us” he had tears in his eyes, and …I stood there, slack-jawed.

In hindsight, my response SHOULD have been to fight for the man and tell him we would get through this together, as it should be with any two people in love.

What happened instead? It’s kind of obvious…

I accepted the decision, giving no forethought to the future regret I’d feel over my lack of an appropriate response.

You can accept what I’m about to say as the truth (or not) but the connection Rodney and I shared WAS deep. It bordered on spiritual; so much so that when he passed in the early morning hours of January 3rd, 1998, I sat straight up in the bed I shared with my [then] very abusive ex, opening my eyes and crying silently to myself. I knew in that moment that “my Rodney” had just passed from this world. The horror was that I’d not fought for what could have been [almost] ten years which we “could” have had together. Instead, I’d allowed fear and worry and uncertainty to provoke me into a panic that day in 1988, motivating me to make a decision that would forever haunt me (and it has).

To add insult to injury and irony, the fear (felt just shy of a full thirteen years in advance of my escape from an abusive ex in 2001) of “possibly being infected” would be replaced by the realization that my then abuser HAD exposed me to the virus. I’d taken Greg at his word when he claimed to be HIV-negative (when in fact he was not). In the absence of such information I’d foolishly agreed to lower my guard, allowing sexual conduct that put me at higher risk of being infected.

I’m not exactly certain what the moral to this story might be; I imagine there are several. But one is, “Don’t allow fear to drive your decisions. There’s nothing wrong with getting as much information as you can gather together (and you should) … but in the end, what you will have to live with is the question of ‘What if?’”

One more thing that I would like to say (as I can only imagine some of the concerns that might be going through the minds of those thinking about Taylor and I’s relationship). He and I have and continue to talk openly about this subject (my HIV status and his being negative) regularly enough. It’s not a topic that is open to debate among friends or readers here (understand that). Rather, the discussion is and will always remain between he and I, as we spend time and grow together. I suppose the best way to put it is “our future is unwritten but the gift of our deep abiding affection for one another is something we continue to share today because neither of us wishes to endure regrets that are driven by fear.” Are we safe? EXTREMELY so. Is there any such thing as “totally safe?” Personally, I don’t believe so as long as sexual relations are involved (and I’d be lying if I said I don’t worry about this sometimes). That said, safer sex, prayer, respect and affection/consideration are “a given” in our relationship. We do everything that we can to diminish the risk and we make damned certain that affection is the driving force in our “activities.” I would hope such exists within the relationships of all persons who are having sex with one another. I only say this because we’ve both been on the receiving end of some very brutal comments in the past, couched as “concern” but having come across as disrespectful (as if we haven’t and do not continue to give this a lot of thought). We have; we are, but as with all matters concerning couples, these are decisions my partner and I make together — with much consideration and forethought, just as every other couple in the world “should do.” My recommendation: “Live your life with as few regrets as possible but do take precautions when they are warranted (which they are in this day and age).”

Final thought: If you don’t care about the person you’re having sex with, you’re missing out!

Namaste,
Michael

I have always said (and still maintain) that every person is entitled to vote his or her conscience, for the man or woman he or she feels will do the best job.

We all know that the President’s powers are limited but the office is not without its influence. I posted a link to a Youtube video the other day about an interview of a schoolteacher who sat across the table from Mitt Romney, during which he responded to her most unkindly and rudely when she indicated she had a suggestion for how some of the issues relating to the education of our children might be addressed. Romney cut her off, saying, “I didn’t ask you a question.”

In my personal opinion, the man is totally UNQUALIFIED to lead this country.

I’m not saying that Barack Obama has been the best of leaders during the past four years; I take issue with some of the things he has done, as well. More so, I take greater issue with the actions of both the Republican and Democratic parties (as both have put the interests of this nation on the back burner while playing “partisan politics” and creating gridlock in Washington, D.C.)

As anyone who knows the slightest bit about me know, I’m a gay white male. I did NOT “choose” my sexual orientation; it simply is what it is, just like the color of my skin, my gender, the family to which I was born, etc.

That’s a far cry from those things we DO choose, such as whether to believe in a religion, what we do for a living, where we live and what we drive, etc. The LGBT community has been fighting for acceptance, understanding and equality for years; we’ve made some (a lot, actually) progress but we are nowhere close to being treated with the respect deserving of any man, woman or child just for being who he or she was born to be.

Same-gender relationships are not recognized, though most are every bit as loving and respectable as any [other] relationship between a committed man and woman. If my partner becomes ill and must be hospitalized, I’m not considered “family” and therefore not given the same access and consideration I might receive were I a straight, married male and my “partner” were a woman.

Same-sex couples who are in committed relationships, who have chosen to build a life with one another starting with the purchase of a home, vehicles, shared checking and savings accounts, etc. do NOTenjoy the same protection under the law should one or the other of them die.

Certainly they [we] can have legal documents drawn up but in the end, even that does not guarantee that their wishes will be followed — and it’s a hell of a fucking lot more expensive than the simple execution/signing of a marriage certificate which opposite-sex couples may enjoy. ONE WOULD THINKthat since we are not given the same consideration and protection under the law that we would not have to pay taxes that are commensurate to those [straight couples] who DO enjoy all of these protections and freedoms.

Such is NOT the case; we are taxed equally to all others, regardless of our sexual orientation and acceptance.

This is why I get as angry about this issue as I do and it’s why I’m saying “Fuck you, Mitt Romney!”

To those reading this blog entry, who are taking the statement I have just made personally, as an affront to your delicate political sensibilities (regardless of whether you’re family or a friend)…

If you cannot understand WHY those of us who do NOT fall into the category of heterosexual, are so angered by the personal agendas of the conservatives to restrict and diminish the civil rights of others (in this case, me), basing their actions on a SECULARbelief that we are immoral and therefore undeserving of the same consideration as any other citizen of this great nation…

Some might say that if you cannot stand WITHus in an effort to achieve what is rightfully “everybody’s” then you are standing against us.

I understand that unless you are gay or bisexual, that this might not be considered “your fight” but I’ll remind those reading of “The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would have them treat you.” If you cannot stand up for the rights of others, how then can you expect them to stand up for your own rights if and when you yourselves are on the losing end of a constitutional matter/discussion?

You may have your reasons to vote for Mitt Romney and far be it from me to tell you to do otherwise (as I think every vote is important, regardless of whether it is how I myself would or would not vote). But if you cannot at the very least TELL THIS F##KERthat you do not stand with him on this personal agenda of “hate” (and that IS what it is, regardless of how some may color it), then you are no real friend to those closest to you (including family) who identify as gay or bisexual.

If you are standing with a bigot who puts his “religious” beliefs above his ability to uphold the precepts of our founding documents and all that they stand for (“EQUALITY”) without at least telling him you disagree, then you’re a part of the problem.

Personally, I feel that this hateful man is “ill-equipped to lead this nation” and he doesn’t have the interests of our country and its citizens at heart. I won’t be voting for him in the forthcoming election; he’s shown his colors on many the occasion and I just cannot stomach their shade.

Namaste,
Michael

Does it quality as “hate speech”? I don’t believe it does though it doesn’t really surprise me that Muslims find the film so distasteful. (Personally, I think the director captured the essence of many in the Middle East who make the news. Perhaps they simply don’t like seeing the truth through another person’s eyes?)

REGARDLESS of the film’s message; regardless of the opinions expressed by the video’s creator, we here in America have something called “freedom of expression.” It’s one of the rights we’ve cherished from this country’s very beginning. This right is one of many which set us apart from those in other parts of the world who must suffer the censorship and radical control at the hands of their governments and/or dictators.

Granted, some (many on many different occasions perhaps) will occasionally say something that others among us find offensive, insulting, infuriating, etc. but so long as they are expressing an “opinion” or what they believe to be the truth, that is their “right” to do. (Even if [perhaps] they’d be better served by employing a bit of self-restraint and decorum.)

I myself have made statements which I know have offended others but the grownups among us take it all in stride and simply move on.

That CLEARLY isn’t the way of those who follow Muhammad

Violence against Americans and American interests abroad? Violence against people who had NOTHING whatsoever to do with the video and whose ONLY LINK to the film’s creator is that they too are U.S. citizens? I have said it before; I’ll say it again… The Middle East, the entire region, is ONLY interested in violence.

They have been fighting amongst themselves for thousands of years and worse, they brought their fight to us when the terrorists among them inflicted harm and death upon our own, both abroad and right here on our own soil.

The latest round of violence is nothing to be surprised by. Extremists will use ANY EXCUSE to justify their perpetuation of violence toward American citizens and the interests of this country. I say, “Pull ALL of our people out of the region; every last one of them. Those [Americans] who refuse to leave, let them know they are taking their own lives into their own hands and that they should not count on aid from this country if they should run afoul of the real infidels. THEN cut off ALL of the aid we are presently offering to these regions — ALL OF IT!” Send a loud and clear message that they are “on their OWN”, to do for themselves with their own resources (not ours).

We should do all we can to divest ourselves from the dependency we’ve created on foreign oil, etc. so that the Middle East does not profit from the sale of oil to American interests.

Understand this… I’ve nothing against the religious beliefs of Islam and personally speaking, I understand the offense taken when somebody takes pot-shots at the figurehead associated, by definition, with one’s faith. However, it is imperative that these people understand that the “OPINIONS” as expressed by ONE U.S. citizen do not necessary represent the opinions of every American.

Since so many in the Middle East seem incapable of making that distinction, screw them! My response is, “Have fun building up your own damned country and doing for yourselves, folks. I ain’t helping you anymore.”

— Michael

If you want something, get off your ass and work for it. I’ve done that my entire life and I’m quite sick and tired of those who feel “entitled” to free handouts.

I am all for giving a person a much-needed hand-up but I’m tired of those who just want a handout so they can sit on their asses and get a free ride at the expense of those who ARE working, who DO pay taxes on salaries that are the direct consequence of their having worked for them (as opposed to a “salary” that was simply given to him or her under the guise of some government subsidized welfare program).

This isn’t to say there aren’t people out there who are deserving of a hand-up to survive; they exist (I know they do).

I’m just saying that “If you want the help, GIVE SOMETHING BACK in return! Don’t just take the money and run.

You can pick up trash, volunteer to do some data entry in a government office or a charity, help out with programs for the elderly or those who are physically unable to get out to pick up their prescription medications or to do their own grocery shopping. There is always something a person can do to give something back to the community that is [financially] helping him or her. Hell, volunteer your time to be a part of a phone bank to answer frequently asked questions relating to city/state services or [again] a charitable organization of some sort.

You might get the impression I’m a Republican, listening to me say these things; you’d be wrong.

I’m a registered Democrat; I have been since I first registered to vote many years ago. Having said this, I’m also an equal-opportunity offender.

I cannot stomach the gas-bags in the Republican party who’ve an interest in legislating morality but neither do I support the idiots in my own party who want to buy votes by offering every lazy-ass citizen (and those who enter our country illegally, who’ve little to no desire to work toward their citizenship) with a handout). I am equally disgusted with both parties.

Certainly, I get that circumstances are seemingly more difficult in some of the other countries and I understand that families there are just trying to make a living and survive… That explains why some of them cross the border illegally to try and find work here. But it REALLY isn’t all that much better for a lot of our own citizens in the States (America).

We’ve a lot of homeless people on the streets; we have a lot of families who are living from paycheck to paycheck, only days away from being turned out of their own homes should luck turn against them. One thing that makes me angry is that much-needed resources, resources which could be used to assist citizens who are here legally, who have been working and have been paying their taxes all along… Those resources are mishandled and given freely to people who are NOT here legally, who have NOT been making the contributions that make those very programs possible, by paying their fair share of the taxes you and I pay (if only because they are here illegally, have been paid under the table and there’s no record of their being employed).

Sorry Mexico… You take care of yours; we’ll take care of our own, thank you very much!

There has never been an argument made in my forty-nine years of living that will convince me I’ve a responsibility to every other person in every other country, be they across the border or around the world. I do my part to help others when I can … but it’s because I “want to”, not because I feel I MUST and am expected to.

If I willingly choose to give of my own resources (those which are mine and mine alone to give) to somebody, that is one thing (and quite honestly, we should all help when we can). But it’s quite another thing for a group of politicians who are living the fat life off of our sweat and hard work, whose only agenda is to get re-elected, to STEAL the fruits of our labors and just give them away, acting dismissive toward the interests and expressed priorities of our own citizens in the process.

You think I’m kidding? Just read about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Tomorrow I may write about how I feel that Ron Paul was screwed by the GOP during the Republican convention (and in the days that led up to the convention). No surprise there, given that NEITHER party understands the concept of integrity and acting on behalf of the interests of the average citizen.

In closing, if you were to ask me who I’m voting for in the upcoming election I’d have to say “I don’t know.”

I’ll probably vote for the Democratic ticket (with reservations) simply because I cannot stomach voting for the elitist Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Ryan wants to gut Medicare and Medicaid; I’m sorry but as fiscally conservative as I am, I have serious misgivings with regard to that little fuck’s attitude toward our seniors who, after having paid taxes all their lives then find themselves in need of medical assistance only to discover that the funds are no longer available for their use.

On a more personal front, I am offended by the Republican Party’s attitude toward LGBTQ issues. Many of their number are as homophobic as they come! So, for those of you who are Republican and can’t understand why I’m not on board with your causes, think about it… If you’d get the fuck out of my bedroom and quit trying to legislate morality, we might be able to reach some common ground.

Till then, the Republican Party can kiss my ass (but all things being fair, color me “disgusted” with both parties!)

Ugh!

I believe in so much more!

We are not alone; we are not a “happenstance” — some mingling of two molecules that somehow, quite by accident did miraculously combine, resulting in our creation. There is a reason, a purpose for our being here.

This doesn’t mean I’m blind to science though; I do believe in evolution.

In fact, I think it is not only silly but downright irresponsible that some institutions teach only creationism. It isn’t God’s intention for us to walk through life with blinders on, oblivious to the fact that “life evolves.” God doesn’t ask that we remain ignorant of how our lives and our environment are affected by science.

If anything, I believe He would ask that we continually question and search out the truth. Anything less is a waste of our intellect which, if one is to believe that all things come from God so too do the minds with which we use to reason with each day.

And yet, there are many who cling to tradition; even in the face of a preponderance of evidence indicating they do not fully understand that which they judge. Their inability to move past their fear and hatred give them cause to do things in the name of their “faith” that is unwarranted, anything but Christ-like and downright inhumane.

I am appalled by the vast majority of those who are quick to proclaim themselves as Christians or devout Catholics, who cloak themselves in religious doctrine to the extent they set aside human dignity for their fellow man.

These individuals are so quick to try and justify their prejudice through a “book” written thousands of years ago in Hebrew (with the exception of a few chapters written in Aramaic). It was written during an era when the language did not even have “words” for some of the things “Christians” and others of faith attempt to pass judgment on today. For instance, many assume God held homosexuality in disfavor when only one or two scriptures make mention of persons of the same gender laying with one another. (Even then, it takes a stretch of the imagination and gross misinterpretation of those scriptures to justify their stance on the matter.)

Those who use the Bible to justify their prejudice against (and the hatred or disgust they feel toward homosexuals) more often than not will disregard all scripture which may present their own actions in an unfavorable light. Such persons choose instead to focus ONLY on passages that appear to support their not so Godly agendas. They much prefer to criticize and condemn rather than leave the judging up to Another who might know our hearts so much better than our peers EVER could.

How ironic is it that they cannot see the correlation between the arguments used by those who preceded them, who relied on the Bible in a failed attempt to justify slavery and preempt couples of mixed races from following THEIR OWN hearts and marrying one another? Those same arguments are eerily similar to the ones given in the “present day” while trying to prevent same-sex couples from marrying, a right opposite-sex couples often take for granted. (We simply wish to secure the same protections for our loved ones as any other “married couple” might enjoy under the (sic) watchful eyes of the government.)

But setting aside the issue of marriage equality for now…

Do you know what really irritates me the most?

When friends and family profess to be understanding and open-minded, yet fall strangely quiet when their much louder “Christian peers” are out there kicking up a fuss and slapping [LGBTQ] persons in the face with hateful comments and degradations.

I cannot tell you the number of times I have stood up for the type of Christian I admire, gently speaking to those who may have endured years of insults (and even physical violence) at the hands of professed “Christians.” I try to remind the victims of those who veil their hatred behind religious dogma that “not all Christians are guilty of the behavior they (and I) take offense to.” I insist there are good people out there who are both faithful AND open-minded, tolerant and accepting

In short, I tell them that there are some Christians who are TRULY worthy of the name.

And then these very same “Christians” of whom I am thinking of fail to stand up to their peers who are giving all of Christianity a black eye. It is sadly disappointing.   No, it is @#!(##$& infuriating is what it is!

I am now directing my comments to those of you who are unwilling to recognize the hypocrisy of saying in one breath that you believe people should be more understanding, tolerant and accepting of those who identify as LGBTQ — yet you go “out of your way” to express your devotion and give money to companies that have expressly made it their business to support hateful, anti-gay groups.

I’m talking about the subject matter of which we’ve all grown tired of hearing about; Chick-fil-A and the response to Mike Huckaby’s call for all Christians to support Dan Cathy and his chain of restaurants (if we can call them such). You see, Cathy and those illiterate cows that spread their message (“Eat Mor Chikin“) use some of their profits to support institutions that are clearly anti-gay.

Chick-fil-A has given more than a half-million dollars each to The Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Exodus International; organizations that promote being “delivered from homosexuality.”

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is a group that has voraciously worked to oppose marriage equality here in the United States. Were you to visit their site, you might have a difficult time identifying whether you were on their site or that of Chick-fil-A‘s. (To put it another way, they are sucking up to Chick-fil-A as a Dyson does to dirt; I imagine, all in the pursuit of some of the restaurant chain’s profits to further fund their hateful agenda.)

In the wake of this support (and more importantly, the lack of any expressed concern by anyone I know who identifies as “Christian” for friends or family members who are gay, lesbian or transgendered), I will no longer defend those Christians who pretend to be tolerant and accepting. I will no longer ask my own friends not to “lump all Christians into a common pot.” Why should I? None within my own circle of friends and family have even bothered to try and understand “WHY we [LGBTQ persons] are so offended by the idea that our own money and that of our friends and family have been used against us.

I myself have frequented Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s fast food franchises in the past (no more).

Our dollars are among those given by Dan Cathy (and others like him) to the very groups who have tried to present us as evil and unworthy of tolerance, acceptance OR equality.

By and large, the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of “Christians” have demonstrated on so many levels that their (your?) compassion and understanding are not genuine. Even friends have failed to understand that it is unacceptable when corporations and/or a majority try to force their will upon a minority simply because that minority doesn’t fit in with their (your?) religious ideals.

In light of the above, I am moved to no longer lift a finger to try and defend the honor of any Christians whatsoever. Same goes for persons of color (blacks) who cannot or refuse to recognize just how very similar OUR fight for acceptance and equality is to that fought by their own ancestors (and some of my own) many years ago. You’re on your own, folks (just as we seem to be).

Namaste,
Michael

As indicated in an earlier [blog] entry, I’ll continue to focus my thoughts on everything I am thankful for (which is quite a lot) and I refuse to allow the works of those whose actions are born of hate to have their desired effect on me. That does not mean I will ignore the tragedies that are left in the wake of their hatred, however. Bullying a child for any reason is wrong, whether the abuse comes from another child or an adult. Sadly, there is a lot of bullying that is originating from BOTH these days; most notably (at the moment), from those who are trying to secure the nomination for the Republican ticket in the upcoming presidential election and as well, from the uber-conservative “we’ve got a stick up our arse” State of Tennessee!

This entry isn’t going to be a full-on rant but understand one thing… I will revise the entry each and every time I hear of yet another child or young adult whose suicide or death is somehow related to LGBTQ intolerance and bullying. It isn’t intended to be a depressing blog entry (though by its very nature it will be).

Rather, it is a reminder to any who read it of just how many senseless deaths are taking place in this one year (2012) alone as a consequence of prejudice and intolerance.

“God, grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.”

My heart is heavy and my prayers are with each and every one of these unique individuals. I will be praying for each soul whose earthly body was discarded as a consequence of the senseless hatred that exists and is openly demonstrated toward those who are, or are only perceived to be, different from their straight counterparts.

It is time that we put the needs of the bullied AHEAD of the so-called rights of those who justify their bullying by claiming that their interpretation of their faith allows and/or encourages THEM to judge another human being as “less than” on the basis of his or her sexual orientation. That was NOT the message of Jesus Christ and if some uber-conservative feels that it was, he (or she) is horribly mistaken.

Peace be with you,
Michael
 
[ This page/entry will be moved ahead of other entries as the statistics change and the need arises. ]

If you are aware of other LGBTQ youth or young adults who have taken their lives as a consequence of bullying, or were the subject of a hate crime that resulted in their death, please provide a response with their name in the comments section below so that I can research the matter and update the list here.

Most importantly, if you are a young teen struggling with depression and complex issues relating to bullying and/or family and friends who don’t seem to be supportive of you for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, remember… Suicide is not the answer; it is a permanent solution to a temporary situation. Your life is precious and you are perfect just as you are. Don’t allow the ignorance of others to make you feel as though you’re a lesser person. God created you in His image, perfect in every way (including your sexual orientation). If you are having problems seeing that for yourself and are having thoughts of suicide, please call:

The Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386.
You owe it to yourself to see just how wonderful your own life can one day be.

Instead of focusing on “what you believe” sets us apart, why not try understanding how much we have in common (with you)? We bleed the same, we love the same, there are many gay men and women who yearn to raise families… A good many of us are faithful/spiritual/religious; a good many MORE would be if only we weren’t always being told God doesn’t condone our acceptance of ourselves. We live, we die, we work, we play… We are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Some are over-achievers while others; well, not so much (no different than any other group of persons I suspect). Some of us are fit while others are chubby; some are clean cut and others identify as “goth.” Some work as models, hair stylists, artists (right alongside their/our straight counterparts). Still others make their living as lawyers, firemen (and women), police officers and judges, accountants, CEOs, ditch diggers, fry cooks and any number of other jobs that your average run of the mill straight guy or gal might hold. Heck, just like our heterosexual peers, some of us even play professional sports. There isn’t one single segment of society where we aren’t represented. All one need do is keep an open mind and quit spending all of his/her spare time worrying about what we’re doing behind closed doors, at home and in our own bedrooms with the one we fell in love with (who is every bit as important and an integral part of our lives as your own might be to you).

I’m not saying that every gay man or lesbian fits a certain mold. Certainly there are some who are promiscuous and hesitate to settle down, no more so than any straight man or woman in the world who feels the same calling to play the field … but don’t judge us all by the actions of some.

…If you still don’t see how much alike we are, you and I, then you’re really not trying all that hard.