In these times, it can no longer be denied that gay people are already growing in numbers.  As this happens, societies in the different parts of the globe have no choice but to accept the fact that they exist and that they should be respected and treated equally.  Those societies that still tend to discriminate them are those that have not really matured or developed through time.  It is true that society has not been very kind to gay people.  If one just looks back at the history of the gay people’s movement, he would certainly cringe at the information about how they have been treated badly because of their sexual preferences.  This definitely should not be the case because they have not done anything wrong to other people.  Then again, their history would prove that they have actually been persecuted before, especially in the olden times when religious bigotry was at its height.

Gay people have contributed to the advance of culture.  This is an undeniable fact.  By this alone, they definitely have to be credited for it and not chastised.  Their history would show that theirs was not just a movement of asserting their rights as individuals but was also a movement for cultural development.  Such contribution to society has oftentimes been ignored though by many bigots in power primarily because they simply do not want to accept these people as part of society.  However, gay history is continuing.  This means that gay people are part of society’s evolution.

Gay people, i don\’t mind straight people—michael pollak (Flickr.com)

The issue of gay rights has always been controversial. This is especially true nowadays when the gay and lesbian communities in the country are already asking for the right to get married to be legalized by the states. For those, however, who believe that this right is only for heterosexual relationships, granting this to the gays is simply unacceptable. The truth though is that there are more and more people who are respecting this right and, although they are not gays at all, they have supported the legislation of such rights. It is actually just a matter of understanding the particularities of gay people and learning about their history at the same time.

If there is one major obstacle towards recognizing the rights of gay people to marry, it is that there are people who still do not understand their basic characteristics. Apparently, it is not just because they fail to understand but because they simply intend not to. The major culprit behind this tendency is conservatism. Once can be conservative because of his religious convictions. In fact, those who do not really recognize that gay people are just normal do not have any firm or scientific basis. They merely insist on certain ambivalent religious teachings.

For individuals who wish to understand gay people, it is best that they actually make friends with them. It is clear that unless they do get to know someone who is gay, they would never be able to sympathize with such individuals. Of course, it is very important that they be able to get over their homophobic tendencies. Homophobia definitely has no valid or logical basis. It is a product of wrong impressions created by a society that has a history of bias against the gay and lesbian community. Of course, as soon as people get to realize that there is no problem with gays, they would also get to be more objective in their opinions about them. Sometimes it feels like reading all this material on our history makes tears flow from my eyes – but its really just me sitting in front of a bright monitor researching this which is making my eyes itch.

It would indeed be better if people would also get to know the history of the gay community. Apparently, it would be through a thorough review of their history that people would be able to understand the sentiments and the struggles of gay people. There is no doubt that such history is one that would even make people realize that gays are not only normal but are also productive members of society just like the rest of the population.

There would certainly come a time when people would no longer be biased against gay people. They would be able to get over the usual prejudices and would treat the gay people in a more acceptable manner. Again, this may not happen all at once. There would have to be a process first; one that may actually be gradual. The important thing is that soon changes would occur, making society more fair and sensitive to the plight of gay people. The motion towards this is positive. History has shown that improvements have actually been introduced for the good of gay people.

There are people who tend to call gay people names that are not nice at all. There are those who are against the issue of same sex marriages and even go all the way to evading these people in public places. There are those who say that they are not creatures of the Almighty while some would say that girls liking other girls are hot but guy gays are not to be tolerated.

Gays are actually the same as anyone. They work hard; they feel the same sensations we do. The only thing is that they have a different sexual preference. It doesn’t also mean that being gay means they don’t work hard and well. There are also straight people who are much less of a worker.

Gay people are often ridiculed for their relationships. The thing is heterosexuals who have partners may not also be as good a lover to his partner. This makes them even more hypocrites in the way they handle and perceive relationships. It’s high time that people should embrace and the gay community. They should realize that gay people deserve their own rights and they need to have the dignity that should be inherent to anyone.

There have been a lot of crimes committed against gay people. An example of this would be the October 2012 incident when three men were mobbed and killed in a Bronx basement. These three men were believed to be gay. The same incident happens across all the other cities in the US. It has also been said that there is also a significant increase in the hate crimes against gay people for around 3 years now. It may also be that there are thousands of the same cases that have not been reported. That is why self-defense appears to be a major issue among gay people.

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If one is gay and he is not open about it to people, it can be very stressful and this triggers an inner turmoil. There are gay people who had committed suicide for the reason that they couldn’t reveal their true identity.

Right now among the familiar issues with gay people is that those who have undergone the civil union or the same sex marriage cannot even be covered by one another’s insurance policy. There also still a lot of states that do not allow gay marriage. In fact only six states allow this union. The State of California is a safe haven for gay people. The country is among the first that made gay marriage legal. There are a lot of gay people who live in this area and it is very democratic to the gay community too.

Recently though the Proposition 8 had been passed which bans gay unions in the state. The main reason for this is that there are a lot of gay men within the armed forces. There is an issue called Don’t Tell wherein any gay member in the armed forces who is found out can be discharged from his duties.

Watch Obama’s video on his views about gay marriage here:

OBAMA—fortuneless cookie (Flickr.com)

The best breaking news of the day is President Obama declaring that he fully supports and backs marriage equality.

While many see the move as perfectly-timed for a presidential campaign, Obama has already expressed the need to protect the rights of lesbian and gay couples earlier in his presidency, and has admitted to have an “evolving” stand on same-sex marriage. Making this announcement, whether the timing is right or not, is needed especially during these times when religious bigotry seems to be more of a threat than ever to those who simply want to be free to love.

It was only this Sunday when Vice President Joe Biden announced his full support of LGBT marriage during NBC’s Meet the Press, saying he is “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage. Education Secretary Arne Duncan echoed his sentiments.

Both media and political analysts are expected to have a field day with these announcements, with speculations about whether Obama’s openly supporting gay marriage will affect his presidential bid in more conservative states.

The LGBT community welcomes this form of evolution with open arms and hearts, that’s for sure.

What is even more touching about Obama’s statement is his mention of how he went from merely being open to the idea of supporting marriage equality, to realizing that his own daughters have friends with same-sex parents. Equality can never be explained to children if people are not free to love and marry other people they love.

In an interview with ABC News, President Obama said:

“I’ve just concluded, for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

Sometimes, a change in perspective is all that is needed to understand LGBT issues. Marriage may be superficial for many, but it all boils down to redefining the family. A family need not be simply a mother, father, and kids. It could be two moms and kids, two dads and kids, as long as the parents provide the same kind of love, caring, understanding, and support that heterosexual parents are expected to provide. And if the members of the LGBT community are brimming with those kinds of traits, plus a real desire to form a family, who are we to deny them of that right to love and become loving parents? Researching this material made me very tired – thus bags under my eyes.

Obama added in the same interview, after discussing the topic with his daughters:

“It wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”

Based on real life events that rocked the entire LGBT community the world over, The Laramie Project is a 2002 dramatic film about what happens after a gay man named Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. There is a range of real emotions portrayed in this movie, from anger to fear to shame to love, and just about everything in-between. TV Guide’s Matt Roush describes the way homophobia is portrayed in the movie as “enlightening”.

Ang Lee directed this 2007 dramatic film about the romantic and sexual relationship of two “cowboys”. Brokeback Mountain won a slew of international awards, and is the 10th highest-grossing romantic film of all time.

A comedy about gay parents having to fit into heterosexual societal expectations, The Birdcage is an American remake of an earlier 1978 French-Italian original. Despite the social gaffes and the outrageous lengths to which the main characters try to hide their sexual orientation from their future ultraconservative Republican in-laws, perhaps the most touching take on homosexuality in this film is how the gay partners are seen as parental figures of one hopelessly heterosexual girl, and how they redefine “family” in their own fabulous but loving ways.

Gus Van Sant’s 1991 “indie” film deals with the journal of personal discovery of two young men who are friends. Only one of the main characters is openly gay, but the confession of love for the other young man is very poignantly portrayed. Newsweek’s David Ansen notes:

“The campfire scene in which Mike awkwardly declares his unrequited love for Scott is a marvel of delicacy. In this, and every scene, Phoenix immerses himself so deeply inside his character you almost forget you’ve seen him before: it’s a stunningly sensitive performance, poignant and comic at once.”

Tom Hanks excels in his acting in this 1993 film about a gay lawyer stricken with AIDS. Philadelphia is widely acknowledged to be one of the first Hollywood films to deal with such a delicate issue. The movie handles the issue of homophobia, HIV/AIDS, gay relationships, discrimination, and love with such grace, raw emotion, and intelligence that it earned much critical raves.

Talackova’s attorney, Gloria Allred, denounced what she called discrimination against her client. In a statement, she said:

“She is female on her driver’s license, on her passport, on her birth certificate, and she’s recognized in Canada as a woman. She has always thought of herself as a woman.”

Now, after an official statement from the Miss Universe Organization declared that it is on the verge of finalizing an official policy change which will allow transgendered women to participate in beauty pageants, the issue has all but rested. While this has helped transgendered people achieve a semblance of equal rights, more arguments have sprung up about the subject, with even LGBT people questioning the decision.

Central to the arguments were the definition of a “woman”, citing biological and sociological factors. The presence of a womb, the ability to conceive and bear a child, and other functions supposedly inherent among “natural-born women” were brought up, but were parried by philosophical what-ifs like, if a woman is barren, will she be disqualified from joining a beauty pageant because she does not meet the requirements? Why is there an age limit to Miss Universe candidacy—does a woman stop being a woman after age 27? Does a woman stop being a woman when she gets married?

An even deeper response to the issue questioned the legitimacy of beauty pageants in defining women…or objectifying them. Many call them “meat parades” run by lascivious men for self-gratification. Is the Miss Universe an appropriate platform for furthering LGBT rights…or further demeaning them? Are transgendered women who join these pageants expected to become flag-bearers of LGBT rights, or are they themselves buying into the perceived glamor of the event and blurring the line between empowerment and exploitation?

Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe rights and who allowed the ruling in favor of transgenders eventually, made several offensive comments about Talackova joining the local pageant. He made a wisecrack about how the candidate’s first name and first 3 letters of her last name sounded like “genital” (JennaTal). Gloria Allred responded through an interview with Barbara Walters:

“Trump must stop being focused on genitals, his or anyone else’s.”

“This country cannot continue to violate God’s principles and to make a mockery of His laws and think we’re gonna get away with it. And when the boil comes, it’s going to be horrible.”

This theme continues on in many of his talks, underlining his very Christian belief that gay people will be punished and that support from the USA for the LGBT community must be put to a stop. He offers “redemption” done the 700 Club way; a sort of cleansing that will wash the gay away from those living a homosexual lifestyle.

However, during one of 700 Club’s Question and Answer portion, a viewer named Douglas inquired about what Reverend Pat Robertson thinks of certain Christian schools bullying LGBT students. His answer might surprise you.

“Well I think that’s terrible. Christians shouldn’t do that… I mean.. lesbian, gay, transgender, blah blah blah, I mean.. Christians shouldn’t do that. They ought to act in love.”

That last sentence, about acting in love, is in fact one of the core principles of the LGBT movement. Being free to love, as long as you harm none, and not being punished because of that love, is what gay people are fighting for. It is a universal right and should not be violated.

The Reverend went on to say:

“You may disagree, you may think these practices are an abomination, you can think all sorts of things, but you need to love, and reach out to these kids in love.”

To which his co-host replied: “Absolutely. Bullying is wrong – period.”

It is a great thing that, at least for a moment, bullying was defined as something that nobody has to go through no matter who they are, or what they represent, by the very same people who think being gay is fundamentally unacceptable. Bullying has, for a very long time, been dismissed and regarded as a playground staple; something you can expect to happen to you at one point and just have to learn to grin and bear.

Recent happenings have underscored how and why bullying must stop, especially in the context of the LGBT community. This article called Day Of Silence Aims To End LGBT Bullying In Schools narrates how anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools must be recognized and prevented. According to research:

A 2009 survey by GLSEN found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30 percent have missed at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. Two of the top three reasons students said their peers were bullied because of actual or perceived sexual orientation, and the point of Day of Silence is to use the power of silence to make anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in America’s schools.

Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest) is a flamboyant Irish writer and poet who is still referenced in modern times for his wit and humor. He was also openly gay even after getting married and becoming a father.

Oscar Wilde—George Eastman House (Flickr.com)

Truman Capote, who wrote In Cold Blood, was also widely known to be gay even as a young man. He was often seen to wear women’s clothing, and was perhaps best described in the conclusion of Capote, A Biography (1988):

Finally, when he goes to join the queer lady in the window, Joel accepts his destiny, which is to be homosexual, to always hear other voices and live in other rooms. Yet acceptance is not a surrender; it is a liberation. “I am me,” he whoops. “I am Joel, we are the same people.” So, in a sense, had Truman rejoiced when he made peace with his own identity.

Truman Capote—D Services (Flickr.com)

Other famous gay writers and staunch LGBT supporters include Walt Whitman, Virginia Woolf, Gertrude Stein,  Sappho, and many more.

Gay pride 339 Marche des fiertés Toulouse 2011 jpg…—Guillaume Paumier (Flickr.com)

There is rampant intolerance of many kinds of lifestyles, and one of the most apparent would be bigoted attitude towards LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) people. What is shocking is that it is not only a matter of derogatory remarks, discrimination, and other issues that reek of basic human rights violation…but also out-and-out cruelty to the point of wishing our LGBT brothers and sisters dead.

That’s right: some religious extremists such as those in Uganda wish to push for a law that will criminalize and even execute gay people, as this article called Uganda Pastors Accuse U S Of Spreading Gayism Imposing An Agenda reveals. Watching videoclips on this almost gave me a mild stoke! the kind you will be hurt from.

Re:  The Uganda Kill the Gays Bill. My first inkling of it was when a member posted about it on the FB anti-homophobia page The Watchbiatches, and as much as it shames me in hindsight for not giving it my full attention, I have to admit not really being all that shocked about it.

I have watched and ROFLMAO’d so much to the Eat the Poopoo video courtesy of the National Task Force Against Homosexuality in Uganda (shown in the clip below)

that I tended to treat everything in relation to it afterwards as one big fist-eating, anus-licking joke. The shock registering on Dr. Pastor Martin Ssempra’s face, as well as on his colleagues’, when they were being treated to a visual presentation of “what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedroom”, was simply priceless.

All along, the good pastor held in his self-righteous hands the answer to his indignant outbursts that presumably reinforced the anti-gay backlash in Uganda to the point of criminalizing homosexuality: he and his followers cannot tolerate what they perceived to be disgusting acts done by members of the LGBT community.

In their own words:

In private.

In their own bedrooms.

As someone who practices certain fetishes of her own that do not harm anyone outside her bed chambers (in a manner of speaking), what I find most appalling about Uganda’s intolerance towards gay people is that it is willing to mete out brutal punishment for it. As the All Out website states in their About page (http://www.allout.org/en/about):

In 76 countries around the world being LGBT is a criminal offense. In 10, it is legal grounds for execution or life imprisonment. Even in countries where LGBT people have secured basic rights, many LGBT people are denied the opportunity to live full and equal lives and endure daily homophobia.

 Executing, punishing, ostracizing, or generally making life miserable for someone because of their preferences must never become a provision of some law, no matter how unattractive these preferences may be to some. The people behind the Uganda anti-gay law have clearly shown to the world just how hideous intolerance can get; yet to the 500,000 and others who petitioned to put a stop to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, the fight for true equality has never been more beautiful and filled with hope.

gay pride Nantes 2008—Naonerd (Flickr.com)

One positive position we gays would take is promote and authenticate who we really are. The best way is to celebrate that in form of a gathering and social protest. Visibility is a key attribute in this form of authentication – generally speaking a fun and exciting presence  so a parade it is.

Looking for fun costumes and elaborate outfits help make the whole thing more enduring and as such pride will naturally flow from all of the pain and hard work of such and endeavor. Basically the act of putting on and participating in the parade helps bolster the pride itself.

Of course seeing your friends and other strangers join in on the activity only furthers the whole thing. This promotion of self-affirmation helps tremendously with tolerance and diversity. Apparently there is a gay pride month and during this time there are marches and parties.

Gay pride 143 Marche des fiertés Toulouse 2011 jpg…—Guillaume Paumier (Flickr.com)

Here in the USA this would be in June.

On my visit to the California last year I was speaking with los angeles web design company about my plans.   They had some very good suggestions on how I could improve my web presence and also try influence more people via the web.

Next time I’m doing  an internet based project and I need some help with applications or tablets I’ll be calling on them for sure.

Is it me or do you notice dancing guys on stage always have shaved chests and love to wear a hat – perhaps some of them should be hiring some dancing bears for all this. In recent news Florida is going to have a very large gay pride show soon.

SouthFloridaGayNews.com. You Haven’t Seen Nothing Yet Miami Beach Pride to be biggest yet. SouthFloridaGayNews.com. Tuesday 10 April 2012 13 28 Written by AP Last year Miami Beach Gay Pride drew 35000 people making it the city’s largest single-day event. This year organizers stretched the event out over a weekend to accommodate the 60000 people they expect to.…

You Haven’t Seen Nothing Yet Miami Beach Pride to be biggest yet SouthFloridaGayNews.com