No time for civil rights?

I'd just broken my retainer tray after about one month of wearing them and was returning from my dentist to get its replacement. That's $100 I really didn't need to spend. As I'm hurrying down the sidewalk to get back to work I'm stopped by a young girl with a binder. I think to myself "Oh, crap. I really don't have time for this now. Plus, I have food and gifts to buy for the holidays."

She introduces herself to me and asks me if I support gay rights. "Schure do!" I lisp as I try to talk through my new retainer.  She gives me a smile, which seems to give me a free pass to lisp, and proceeds to talk to me about HRC and its work towards passing the Matthew Shepard Act. This is the bill you might remember that gained bipartisan support in both houses of congress last year, only to ulimately be dropped by the Senate because of it being attached to a defense spending bill and out of concern of a veto threat by Furious George. Currently, the legislation is winding its way through the process yet again with high hopes for its passage being pinned on President-elect Obama's support for the GLBT community and a more Democratic congress.

While I'm grateful for all of the friends, family and great food I'm fortunate to enjoy this holiday season; I'm especially grateful for the volunteers who make the effort to be out on the streets on our behalf during this hectic time of year. Your efforts are very much appreciated!

Please take a moment to visit the HRC website to find out more information on the Matthew Shepard Act or to make a donation.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Comments

[Brittany]

I'm not judging any of you first off.... Every religion came from judism the bible has predicted the future and darwin died a christain... The carbon dating and big bang explosion theorys r crap... Which have been proven untrue and sadam and gamara burned for being gay.... Even if you r all atheist wouldn't you rather be safe then sorry because if I'm wrong I have nothing to lose ill just be 6 feet under but if any of you r wrong you will burn for an eternity has that crossed any of your minds?

[Patrick]

Hrm... Why will we "burn for eternity?" I see you reference the bible. Sorry, Brittany, but you will now join me in hell, as the bible clearly says "Women should be silent." You violated the bible, as I have.

[Wyatt1969again]

Dear Brittany,

If you weren’t judging us you would not feel so compelled to open your petulant mouth. You’re a shinning example of what evil really is. Complete with bad grammar and poor spelling – and really - much like your transparent message of hate – your paragraph is poorly constructed.

So here’s some judgment for you. Disgusting people like you sit on there ignorant asses and pass your time hating while saying you don’t hate at all. If any of you spent just half of your time helping end poverty – it would in fact end. If any of you spent even one quarter of your time assisting the elderly or sick – the world would literally be a better place for all of us to live.

Alas – you and those like you are frightened sheep. Rejected by any and all who support reason and willing to condemn anyone lest it is discovered you are entirely inadequate.

You don’t know me and you don’t care about me.

Your scant little tirade is merely something akin to what the budding serial killer does when he or she first learns he or she can pull the wings off a butterfly and get away with it.

No child is safe with you.

Your heart is covered with pitch.

You are the enemy.

And while no one here wants to cause you any pain – we can no longer allow ourselves to be talked down to – approached with an abridged opinion – or bat an eye when you and those like you fall.

And you will in fact fall.

God bless you all!

[gay pride]

Patrick and Wyatt have no idea what a good education is .. Judism is where all religion came from and Patrick men r to love wives same as they love the church what your talking about is old testament Christians live by new testament... You two have no business representing us we look better off without both of you... We need smart people who know what they are talking about to argue our situations ... Stay the fuck out of convos when you don't know what your talking about

[Kathleen]

My goodness, I thought this topic was about being grateful to those who volunteer and stand on the streets to educate, inform, and be active in our fight to achieve equality in our country. I agree, too often we just see people standing with petitions for causes that will affect our daily lives, or people asking for charitiable donations for worthy causes, and we tend to lower our eyes and hurry by them, hoping they won't make us talk to them. Take an interest in your community, take a stand. But remember--people will soon forget what you said, they will soon forget what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel. No matter what your belief, your view on a particular subject, stop condemning those who think differently than you do. If you want to change someone's mind and bring them to your way of thinking, you must show them that you have something special about you. Rarely is anyone frightened into changing their point of view, but often they can be shown by our kind and gentle actions that ours is the right way to live.

[Kathleen]

oh, and by the way, I happen to be both a Christian and a lesbian. No one fears me because of either, but when they come to know me, they only see a human being who honestly does care about them. It truly can happen.

[David]

Clearly we don't want these two supporting our cause Patrick and Wyatt cannot possibly give us good vives ones a liar and poss killer and the other doesn't know any common sense we could be viewed as contradicting ourselves type of people with the help of these two bozos!

[Kate]

Kathleen yes you are right in so many ways however these every guy that has posted on this comment blog comes with hate and stupidity none of them like each other how can we further our cause if we as a group can't even be on the same page? Gays want to talk crap about christains and expect them to turn a blind eye.. Wyatt here is a good example of that... How can any of us be looked upon as a respected people with stupid people running around?

[Wyatt1969again]

Clearly some of you are so malleable you have no idea what it means to really sacrifice anything.

And many of you still can’t write to save your – well for purposes best put here – your soul.

Is this where the self serving self-righteous pseudo Christian bandwagon begins?

I seriously doubt if any one of you who have a problem with me or Patrick are real.

If you are in fact Gay or Lesbian or Bisexual or Transgendered and you seriously think that people like “Brittany” think of you as anything more than, frankly – somehow less – or deficient – or unnatural – or a perversion – a person to be pitied and not trusted with a great deal – you are out of your fucking minds!

None of you deserve any freedom fought for by – and I’ve said this before – any Gay or Lesbian person who went before you.

If you’re just young and stupid – then pull your heads out of your asses and wake the fuck up.

If you’re one of those people who really think that if you pray long enough and hard enough – that everything will be alright – then pull your heads out of your asses and wake the fuck up.

Don’t be the kind of person who works for nothing and expects everything.

Equal rights for GLB&TG people will never rightly be either restored or further granted without a fight.

Make no mistake about it. You will have to draw a line in the fucking sand and you WILL have to stake your claim to your rights – defend them – tend to them – and you better fucking learn to revere them and where they came from because if you don’t – you are less than zero.

Don’t like the word – “Enemy”? So fucking what! Try on faggot if you want a change because that’s what the enemy thinks of you – a faggot – a dyke – basically some type of evil shit which is truly ungodly – unnatural and bore from evil…aka – Satan.

You know – contrary to what you may think of me - I do believe in God and Jesus and in America – very much so.

And I know – if there is to come a day when I atone – and I have to explain myself to whom or whatever – I will not be able to say I was perfect.

But I will also say to whomever it is that judges me that I stand by my undying belief and conviction that Gay people cannot and will not ignore defeat of any kind in any way and that if I am sent to hell for anything I did regarding my position on Gay rights – then I will go with not even one mother fucking ounce of regret.

And lastly – to any of you who take issue with me…

God bless you all. I love you all. And you can all kiss my not so big – and actually kind of toned – ASS!

[Kathleen]

Wyatt, I agree that we have to defend ourselves and stand up for our rights. However, having grown up in the church and knowing how many Christians think--your 'in their face' way will truly only set us back. I think that there are more than just Christians who stand between us and equality. Truth be told, I believe that the loudest Christians are in the minority. My friends, because they came to know me first as a Christian, have come to change their minds about homosexuals. They probably cannot imagine how it is I know I love my partner, but they do know that I do and that I am not a threat to them. Eventually, through the stand that I take, they will be able to at least see why it is we want to get married and how our attitude towards marriage is in reality no different than what they believe. I don't expect all this to pass in my lifetime (I am on my way to 60 years old), but I do expect that the way I behave in this will influence others so the next generation will not have this same struggle. I understand the passion of being young and wanting to change the world NOW, but with age comes the wisdom that if we pave the way correctly NOW, change will happen. I speak from observations over many years, but shouting and cursing only strengthens those who would stand against us. Persistance and passion tempered with grace and gentleness will break down their defensive attitudes much quicker.

Now as far as Christians being 'the enemy', I believe they are not the ones we need to fear most. In our country, yes, there is a threat of violence against us, but not like that in other countries and cultures. Hanging, stoning, imprisionment, and violent attakcs are the reality for our brothers and sisters in Africa, the mid-East, Jamaica, many other places of the world. And these are government and religious sanctioned persecution, not just isolated 'red-neck' kinds of threats. So, it is a world wide fight, not just in America. But again, change can happen one person at a time if we approach it correctly, but the battle will be hard and long for all of us. Thus, we do need to stick together and consider the 'big picture' rather than our own personal desires and egos.

[Wyatt1969again]

[Note to self: Try and figure out a way to get people to understand that when you use profanity – you do so with the utmost respect and really – it is who you are – it is your voice]

Now with that said -

Listen to you!

What exactly are you saying?

You have grown up in the “Church”?
You know how many Christians “Think”?
My in your face attitude will only set us “Back”?

Bitch - are you for fucking REAL?!?

Men who professed to be Christians – not fucking aliens from outer space – almost completely eradicated my Native American brothers and sisters.

Men who professed to be Christians – not fucking aliens from outer space – stood by and watched and waited way too long while my Jewish brothers and sisters (and more) were systematically murdered.

Men who professed to be Christians – not fucking aliens from outer space – trampled Gandhi and his people - to death - because he/they refused to yield to British rule.

I too grew up in a church. My congregation – if that’s what you want to call them were what I call – high end Catholics – better known as - Episcopal.

I too know what people who consider themselves Christians think about a great deal.

And yes (I really want to say Bitch here but I won’t) Lady – I know all about what you think will set us Back.

So what are you recommending? Don’t anger the Christians or they will what? Shank us like the Spaniards did and steal our gold?

The people you speak of do not appear to be Christians to me at all. You might think they are – because they convene in a church once or more a week but I know better.

I know that any true Christian will only be motivated by love. And that the very real love and power of my friend – my brother – my father – Jesus Christ – will through its sheer beauty – prevail.

But I don’t live in Heaven. I live in America.

Perhaps you are referring to Americans and others alike who think they are Christians because they fear - judge – and condemn?

I can’t help but think that what you are trying to say is something like - I’m Okay and so too should you be? That if somehow people see me as more than homosexual they will grant me the respect I deserve?

Fuck that shit.

I will no longer be the house Nigger that should have rightly been free to live as a proud African American man but was not.

I will no longer be the Chink whose back was stood on while building America’s vast railroad system – only to go ignored and un-thanked and isolated.

I will no longer be the Jap – interned during the War because I look like the enemy but was not.

I will no longer be the Wetback who allows himself to be insulted by some fucking dog used on Taco Bell commercials.

I will not wait around until someone finally decides that I am of no danger to them or to their bullshit philosophy.

Now – I do agree with a little bit of what you say - and I quote,

“Persistance and passion tempered with grace and gentleness will break down their defensive attitudes much quicker”.

I can’t help but think that Jesus is down with this – that he agrees with you – and really – so too should I.

But I must remind you that I am almost 40. In my life I HAVE seen my people treated like fucking lepers as they died from AIDS – and only when everyone else figured out they might get it – did anything start to happen for any of us – Gay or Straight.

I watched as Mathew Shepard was discovered – still alive but barely – tied to a fence and tortured with no mercy at all – and if you think he was the first you are out of your fucking mind. And sadly – I have no doubt he will not be the last.

Sorry Kathleen – I’ll have to take a rain check on some of what you say.

Because I am also one of the Gay men who sat and waited in the dark in Seattle Washington back in the 90’s late at night with an aluminum bat - by myself - for some straight guys (usually a group) to pull up and assault me and I did kick the shit out of them (there really never was just one) and I did spray paint – Gays Bash Back right there on the sidewalk – every time I sent one of those PUNK ASS BITCHES running. And they did – in fact - run. And they didn’t - in fact - call the police because they knew what they were doing was wrong. Those mother fucking pieces of shit – got in there car and drove to my neighborhood – Capitol Hill – and picked their fucking fight with me!

So don’t tell me what does and doesn’t work. It’s ALL relative.

Now - I can’t say that I want violence at all. I do not. I have seen so much violence in my life. Not just that which is directed toward Gay people but really toward everyone. It is of no great utility – at all.

I do not claim to be the self appointed voice of the Gay community.

I am a citizen of the United States of America.

Do not mistake my conviction for an ego.

You speak of the length and duration of the Gay rights movement as if it were some annuity – amortized in some way – broadcast across a period which will then yield the final pay off.

Sometimes you can’t take the high road or the low road. Sometimes you have to carve out your own road – and hope that you were successful – knowing that you will not get conformation regarding your efforts until you have all but exhausted your self.

This is life.

This is sacrifice.

This - is FAITH.

God bless you all.

[Kathleen]

Okay, you've said your piece. All I can say is that you are correct, you do not represent me, nor my male gay friends, nor lesbians I hang out with. I will not stoop to the level where you can piss on me for being 'who I really am'. You obviously do not know 'real' Christians, you only know the stereotype, and I feel sorry for you in that respect. I am proud of having grown up in the church, it helped mold me in the person I am today--good and bad. I too have seen the destruction missionaries did to Native Americans--12 years in bush Alaska will give you that perspective. But I also know that I cannot change the past--I can only try to heal the wounds today. And I stand by the belief that I can make a difference today, but not through anger and hatred as you express. I understand your experiences are different from mine--that is to be expected. But alienation of those who stand by your side in spite of our differences will not win this battle

[Wyatt1969again]

Nice active sentence – “Okay, you've said your piece”. Lovely – really it is.

Sounds like yet another passive command – the same kind many people just don’t give out unless they are somehow confused.

You do in fact stoop to that level by mentioning the very word(s).

Lady I can’t help but think you are a real Christian as you so clearly put it. Perhaps this is why you so easily submit to the belief that you should feel sorry for me.

For masked behind your resolute sympathy as well as your inexplicable aversion to “stooping” – is the emotional truth you hold so close to your heart – you’re willing to protect it by exposing yourself as a human.

You are far and away from being the only person whom can QUALIFY what or whom a Christian is – as an individual or a group.

Unless of course you were in fact appointed the sole person on this planet as the one who defines what or whom a Christian really is for everyone else.

And I may be going out on a limb here – but I’m guessing NOT.

I’m guessing that your myopic view comes from something like arrogance.

I am aware of the impact ones environment can have – particularly if it’s institutional – like a church.

It may be true you have been lucky enough to actually grow surrounded by real Christians.

For every person I have met who I feel is a good person I have met one who I know is not. Every time I think I have met the best person – a truly outstanding human being – I meet one better and one worse.

And the interesting thing is – if I know these people long enough – I watch as they change when they do – even some from the political right to the left AND vice versa.

What they say about people changing is, I think, true.

And they may do so in so many ways for so many reasons that if you look close enough you will no doubt find they themselves have in fact trespassed upon another’s right or liberty or freedom with out even knowing it.

I am well aware that no one can change the past so please don’t hand me such a pedestrian proposition.

But the past is not some romantic memory – it is what it is. Good - bad and every thing in between.

It is also the most unique and fluid map every single person shares when potentially considering what he or she or they shall QUALIFY as truth – and from that make decisions which impact others lives without altering their own in any way.

It is this same emotional state which you so carefully attempt to guard which is in fact used to fuel the ongoing campaign - perpetrated by many, many people – of hate directed toward Gay and Lesbian and Bisexual and Transgendered people.

I don’t think you have any idea what we are up against – just how complex and pernicious the loss of just one civil right is and what it means – really – to every American – Gay or Straight.

I think if you could take a look at the big picture – you would understand me better.

My big picture was created by a wealth of experience watching and living among many different types of people defined by class and opportunity. I honestly feel that my perspective is based on a more experientially stratified life.

But I can not know this for sure – and that is argument enough – to not underestimate even you.

I hope at least in the end (here on earth) – that we both live in a better world and that we can look back and at least say we are happy with where we are – with where we are going.

God bless you.

[Jon]

Brittany - I'd rather burn in hell for all eternity than spend a second in heaven with the likes of you and your ilk who would actually believe that God hates people because they are attracted to and fall in love with people of the same-sex.
I won't even touch on the evolution thing because it's flat out ignorance on your part.

[Daniel]

To Patrick, Wyatt, and Jon, Amen! and, Right on!

To Brittany, You are pure evil!

To Gay pride, You sound like an idiot and perhaps you are one in the same as Brittany.

To Kathleen, You sound OK but Patrick, Wyatt, and Jon are the good guys and they can speak for me. They responded to Brittany who no one in their right mind would agree with.

To David, Should I call you Britanny or Gay pride? As silly as you sound you must be one of them signing under a different name.

To Kate, Brittany started it by her stupid statement. Then again, are you sure you are not one and the same as the evil Brittany?