ANTI-GAY AMNESTY PROGRAM: ¨Stop. Just stop. Stop fighting. Stop saying horrible things about us. Stop trying to take our children away. Stop trying to get us fired from our jobs. Stop attacking us, and demonizing us, and trying to make our lives difficult and miserable...¨

anti-gay amnesty program. The idea here goes beyond a simple armistice. This is about absolution and forgiveness. It gives bigots a convenient exit from their opposition, while at the same time lightening the load for the equality movement. Everyone wins.

¨LGBT equality is happening. For it or against it, the perception battle has been resolved. For decades both sides of this conflict have been making their cases to the American people. Equality fans have argued that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is immoral, and in no way holds up to the Jeffersonian standards our society is built on. It is also impractical, mean spirited, costly and generally shameful in just about every conceivable way. On the other side, our opponents maintain that it is in fact LGBT people that are immoral, because of Jesus. Over time, more and more people have come to embrace the concept of LGBT equality over the mean spirited prejudicial view of homosexuality, in increasingly dramatic numbers. At last count, some 54 members of the Senate now support marriage equality...

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/let-it-go-gop/politics/2013/04/13/64864?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNewCivilRightsMovement+%28The+New+Civil+Rights+Movement%29

Thanks to  BENJAMIN PHILLIPS
Thanks to The New Civil Rights Movement, sidebar

RICHARD SOCARIDES: Coming out gay to father who was one of the founders of conversion therapy

¨Richard Socarides, a New York attorney who served as President Bill Clinton’s senior adviser from 1993 to 1999 in a variety of senior positions including advising the president on gay and lesbian civil rights issues, speaks about his coming out experiences to his father, Dr Charles Socarides, one of the founders of conversion therapy who believed homosexuality is a mental illness and can be cured.

Richard Socarides

The senior Socarides, who passed away at 83 in 2005, was the author of a half-dozen books about homosexuality which includes The Overt Homosexual (Grune & Stratton, 1968) and Homosexuality: A Freedom Too Far - A Psychoanalyst Answers 1,000 Questions About Causes and Cure and the Impact of the Gay Rights Movement on American Society

He said during a filmed lecture: >Homosexuality is in fact a mental illness which has reached epidemiological proportions.

He was also an outspoken critic of the American Psychiatric Association's 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

In an interview published by Imfromdriftwood.com, a site that "aims to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people learn more about their community," Richard, 59, recalled that his father was initially angry when he first came out to him and a few months went by before he received a 4-page letter from his father. In the letter, he apologised for getting angry, expressed his desire for his son’s happiness and offered him support although he did not change what he was saying publicly about the treatment and cure of homosexuality...¨

Transcript of the interview:

http://www.fridae.asia/newsfeatures/2013/04/09/12286.gay-son-of-reparative-therapy-pioneer-talks-about-coming-out-to-his-father?n=sec#comments

Thanks to Fridae Asia, sidebar

JAMES BALDWIN: ¨I think white gay people feel cheated because they were born, in principle, in a society in which they were supposed to be safe.¨

Gay Will Never Be the New Black: What James Baldwin Taught Me About My White Privilege

¨I'd never even heard the name James Baldwin until my first semester at Union Theological Seminary. As a white, middle-class American, I was the product of a predominantly white, middle-class education that didn't assign The Fire Next Time and Giovanni's Room, two of Baldwin's masterpieces, alongside 1984and The Scarlet Letter. It wasn't until I moved to New York and took a class on Baldwin's life and writings that I was transformed by the black, same-gender-loving, 20th-century author's honesty and candor.

Baldwin grew up on New York's Fifth Avenue -- not the Fifth Avenue of Saks and the Social Register but the Fifth Avenue of 1930s Harlem, where black Americans like Ellison's invisible man were kept at a safe, 60-block distance from fearful, prejudiced whites. The child preacher turned writer experienced racism and homophobia firsthand and possessed an unflinching eye for the injustices of American life. Unlike many authors I have read before, Baldwin was filled with love, courage and an unrelenting imagination. It was precisely because of his abiding care for his country that Baldwin retained the right to critique her so harshly. He had faith that the United States could be better, not only for him but for all people.

I couldn't help but be captivated by his audacity. He quickly became a sage for me and left behind a signet of courage on my conscience. "[Y]ou have to decide who you are," he said in 1961, "and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you..."  please read it all,

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-clayton/gay-will-never-be-the-new-black_b_2639537.html?utm_hp_ref=tw&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

  

Todd Clayton

Student, Union Theological Seminary

Thanks to The Huffington Post, sidebar
Thanks to The Reverend Dr. Jerry Maneker, sidebar

ONE NIGHT MARY E. SLIPPED AWAY FROM VISIBILITY (but she´s never gone far away from me)

Mary E. looked like Helen Merren and Grandmere Mimi

Once upon a young mans lifetime, I had a very healthyminded mentor who became a good friend.  She remains nearby but she passed away decades ago.  Her name was/is Mary E. and although originally from California she spent most of her adult life raising a family with a banker husband in a elegant suberb of Chicago, Illinois.  After she divorced, she returned home to Los Angeles.

When I became aware of Mary, I was newly sober and I was 35 years old.  Mary was quite the positive influence immediately for me as she had 30+ years of sobriety and quietly chatted about being happy personally and grateful to be fully living out her life in sobriety.  Those words attracted me...I wanted to have a full and happy life in sobriety.

Mary was/remained a inspiration to me.  Mary became my confidant, my sponsor, my trusted friend.

After a year of sobriety I traveled all over the world (literally from Asia to Europe to the markets in New York) on a regular basis in a brand new job as marketing/product/design executive vice president for a fashion accessory importing company. I was away from home over 80% of the time.  Mary always encouraged (without many words) me.  I put fear and selfpity aside and went directly for happy, joyous and free, in great part thanks to Mary E.

 I was rarely home during my almost ten years as, very quickly, the President of the California division of that New York corporation.  Things went very well for me, I prospered  and so did my personal integrity. When I was home, Mary and I always got together, went to lunch or dinner (at some glamourous, or just plain ¨in¨ Los Angeles/Beverly Hills restaurant) and talked about living our full lives in sobriety...both her and me.  We had a wonderful friendship together as she, listened, she sometimes guided me when I felt overwhelmed or simply talked ¨stark reality¨ with me when I had dilemmas, moral or not, ready or not...she was a great friend who always stressed ¨the answers will come, that is, if I want them¨ .

Mary was my ever-present friend until her time amongst the living ended. One night she simply slipped away from the world and from everyones visibility...she didn't go far, she is with me. Still, as I write this blog entry sharing Mary E. Mary, another favorite and kind person for you to meet...a joyful person who moved on after sharing good real life experience and adventure while offering solid reasoning to me for maintaining lasting hope, earning trust, learning trust...eternally.  Ideals that still make me glad everyday and enthusiastic about life sober.

Thank you Mary E,

Len/Leonardo C. B.
Guatemala, Central America

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: ¨...I think that it will all come right. That this cruelty too will end¨

Almost forgot that this is
Holocaust Remembrance Day
6 million Jews were slain
and an additional 11 million comprised of:
Poles, Slavs, Soviets, Romanies, Non-Aryans, the Deaf, the Mentally troubled, Homosexuals. Transexuals, Freemasons, Religious and Political Dissidents.

Biracial Lesbian Vying for Miss South Carolina Crown: Analouisa Valencia breaks all the pageant stereotypes

She's articulate, mixed-race, and proudly, openly gay.

BY NEAL BROVERMAN

¨It's some kind of miracle how comfortable Analouisa Valencia — a lesbian African-American/Latina beauty queen — is in her skin. Currently Miss Lyman, S.C., Valencia travels to the state capitol in July to compete in the Miss South Carolina contest and, hopefully, advance to the Miss America pageant. Valencia isn't coming out per se, because the 19-year-old college student has been out for years; she took her girlfriend, Tamyra Bell, to her prom and attended Bell's. But Valencia is ready to tell the world her story and remains optimistic the judges in Columbia will see her like so many already do: as a role model. The teen was candid in a recent interview with The Advocate, talking excitedly about her future and the women who inspire her...¨  

Thanks to The Advocate, sidebar

http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/people/2013/04/05/biracial-lesbian-vying-miss-south-carolina-crown

HENRIQUE CAPRILES -- CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA: ¨Respect for all Venezuelans¨

Venezuelan Presidential Candidate Fights Antigay Talk

Opposition party candidate Henrique Capriles condemns the interim president's homophobic remarks

¨The candidate vying for the position of Venezuelan president after the death of Hugo Chavez said that homophobia is "absolute fascism...from the extreme right."

Henrique Capriles, is running against interim president and former vice president Nicolás Maduro, who had previously used an antigay slur to describe Capriles's party in 2012. Capriles, who is Jewish, was also attacked last year for his religious background, as well as for being presumably gay because he is single.

On Monday, Maduro made another assertion referring to Capriles' sexual orientation during a campaign speech.

"I do have a wife, you know? I do like women!" he said, according to Reuters. His wife, attorney general Cilia Flores, was at his side. She will step down from her post to join her husband's campaign.

Capriles, who is straight, condemned the remarks, and said he would continue to stand up for "respect for all Venezuelans."

http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2013/03/12/venezuelan-presidential-candidate-fights-antigay-talk

Thanks to Michelle Garcia March

Thanks to The Advocate

TERRANCE HEATH: ¨Friends Don't Ask Friends to Live With Inequality¨

I’ve got news for Cardinal Timothy Dolan

¨...There are times when I wonder if we lose something of ourselves by not calling things what they are. Do we give people a pass they don’t deserve, because they are able to hide behind their religious beliefs? When people gather for the express purpose of denying equality to another group of people, what else can we call it but hate?

From a religious perspective, is it really possible to love someone that you don’t see as an equal? Is it possible to see someone as less than equal without hatred, or without at least contempt? If so, how?

From my perspective, either you see me as equal or you don’t. If you don’t, as far as I’m concerned it amounts to hate – and the actions taken to maintain inequality stem from hatred. I don’t care if it’s for religious reasons. If you can’t see me as equal – and treat me as equal – then you have to see me as (even slightly) less than human. You can’t really see me as equal and still deny me equal treatment. That’s called having your cake and eating it too.

I’ve heard all I can stand of “love the sinner, hate the sin.” My gayness is not what I do. It’s a part of who I am – who I’ve always been. It’s what I feel – have always felt – in my heart. Even if I became celibate (giving up my partner and my son), I would still be the same gay person. I would still feel the same in my heart.

My gayness is not something I do. It’s part of who I am, and what is in my heart. Hate it, and you hate who I am. You hate what is in my heart. You hate me.

It’s that simple. Isn’t it?¨

Thanks to Bilerico Project, sidebar

There is so much more from Terrance Heath:

http://www.bilerico.com/2013/04/friends_dont_ask_friends_to_live_with_inequality.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BilericoProject+%28The+Bilerico+Project%29

FIRST DAY BACK TO THE GYM: Juan Carlos gave me a gift (pre-paid-membership at the local torture chamber)

So here I am, well, the picture isn't me, but I'm here at the foot of volcano looking a little intense (not as mean as this guy)!

It's true, I gotta get down to the business of getting fit again.  A few years ago I had several eye operations.  Therefore, coward that I am, I spent lots of hours/days in/around my bedroom and studio, sometimes isolating but that is not easy when one loves people (as I do, mostly).  I was also eating whatever I wanted to, you know, to feel better, to help cure my eye.  I'm great at pretend,  it's sooo multi-purpose if you really get into it.  Rush, fret, rush, twist and shout! Well, all that is history now as my dear devoted pal Juan Carlitos gave me a gym membership for Happy Easter (happy gym bunny to you too as he also treated himself to one).

I received it last night (after returning from a great dinner party) as Juan Carlos was home after a overnight house/dog sitting gig was cancelled.  So, in I came. Rolling in after a wonderful dinner amongst wonderful people (and a well-known Architect and fab/talented Designer from NYC who said wonderful things about my work and may order some custom art-- I had a little more dessert in celebration) and the free-for-all food frenzy/party is over.  Kerplunk. Stop, look and listen. HALT!

Juan Carlos presented me with my reality -- a gym membership.

Today was the first day back in YEARS!

I loved it.

Thanks to Juan Carlos and all of you for being my friends.  Plump or not, ready or not...just as I am (and I might be in a few months).

I send you my love (don't mention any See's Easter Eggs should you have hunted them down)

Happy Easter and Passover everyone,

Len

BREAKING - URUGUAY - SOUTHERN CONE - Advances Gay Marriage: JULY/AUGUST the bells will ring out! (joining Chile, Argentina, Brazil)

Forte Santa Teresa, 

¨The Uruguayan Senate will vote the marriage equality bill tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2. As you may remember, the bill had been passed by the Chamber of Deputies in December, but the Senate has modified it. According to our Constitution, those modifications will have to be confirmed by the Deputies for the bill to be finally approved. The modifications are minor and do not affect the bill's essence. We know the bill will be passed by both Chambers by an overwhelming majority, and in a speedy way. After this Tuesday's vote by the Senate, the lower chamber will probably vote and pass it in one or two weeks (all in April). Once passed, the government has up to 90 days to regulate it, i.e., to make the necessary changes in red tape to implement it. Hopefully, the first couples will be getting married in July/August.¨

Thanks to Rex Woncker
Thanks to Uruguay
Thanks to Senate and Chamber of Deputies

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2013/04/uruguay-to-advance-marriage-tomorrow.html

UPDATE:   Thanks to Box Turtle Bulletin

Uruguay Senate Approves Marriage Equality Bill

Jim Burroway

April 2nd, 2013

Uruguay’s Senate, after several hours of debate, approved a bill which would provide marriage equality to same-sex couples in a 23-8 vote.

Sen. Rafael Michelini opened the hours long debate by declaring that same-sex marriage represented a “radical change” that future generations may compare to the abolition of slavery. “Of course I cannot compare it to finaly abolishing slavery, because they were fighting that for hundres of years, but for the purposes of a person acquiring rights, is it not a kind of liberation?” Opposition Senator Francisco Gallinal objected to characterizing same-sex marriage as “marriage equality,” warning that other members of society may demand the legalization of polygamy. The bill was strongly supported by the ruling Broad Front party, while the main opposition parties allowed their members a conscience vote.

The Senate version of the bill is slightly different from the version approved by the Chamber of Deputies inDecember. The bill now goes back to the lower house for final approval. President José Mujica has said he will signed the bill into law when it reaches his desk.