In Brief

Staff Reports

Toledo Mayor Announces Plan To Introduce Bill Providing Benefits For Domestic Partners Of City Employees

TOLEDO, OH -- City employees who are partnered but not married are set to possibly receive health care and other benefits in a proposed measure that would extend benefits to the domestic partners of Toledo's employees, provided they have certified their status with Toledo's Domestic Partner Registry.

Last Thursday, Mayor Mike Bell's office announced that Bell plans to introduce the legislation at council's next agenda review meeting this Tuesday, May first. In the statement released by his office, Bell said;

"What we're trying to do is bring our city, from the standpoint of human resources and affirmative-action policies, in line with what's happening nationally," Mayor Bell said. "We're not the first train pulling out of the station here; we're actually in a way trying to catch up with the policies that make companies and cities competitive in the state of Ohio."

According to The Toledo Blade newspaper, other cities in the state, including Cleveland and Columbus, along with Lucas County, the University of Toledo, Owens Corning, and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, offer benefits to domestic partners of employees, according to information provided by the mayor's office.

Bell said he had not realized Toledo didn't offer domestic partner benefits until the non-profit advocacy group, EqualityToledo Community Action, approached him about the issue just more than a month ago. The Domestic Partner Registry, which the previous administration enacted in 2007, allows couples to register their status with the city for a $25 fee but does not extend any benefits. So far, 167 couples from throughout Toledo have signed on to the registry. "Seeing as we had already started portions of this process, it just makes sense to complete it," the mayor said. EqualityToledo Community Action drafted the legislation with the help of the University of Toledo college of law, organization president David Mann said. Having such a law would ensure equal treatment for all employees, he said. "We really think that ultimately this is a matter of fairness," Mr. Mann said. "It will also send a message, whether you're a city employee or not, that the city of Toledo is a fair place to live in."

The Mayor's announcement was met with immediate opposition and skepticism from other elected city officials including City Councilman Rob Ludeman, who was one of two councilmen who had voted against the Domestic Partner Registry. "A lot of it was my own religious beliefs, but I think I represented a conservative constituency who were opposed to it, gay and straight people," Ludeman said. "I'm sure there's going to be vocal folk on both sides. It has nothing to do with liking people or not liking people. It has to do with what is government's role."

The Mayor responded that the legislation has to do with fairness, not religious or moral beliefs. "When you're the mayor, you represent everybody," the mayor said. "Inside the city we have a lot of different lifestyles. All I'm trying to do is be fair to everybody. ... I'm trying to adjust our polices to the obvious that's in front of us right now at this particular time in history."

Jacksonville Florida City Council Takes Up Bill Banning Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A coalition of business organizations and elected officials are backing legislation to ban anti-gay discrimination which is set to be introduced at next week's City Council meeting.

The bill would bring Jacksonville into the same posture as other large Florida cities by formally forbidding discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations -- places like restaurants and hotels -- based on a person's sexual orientation or sexual identity. "You shouldn't be able to fire someone because they're gay. You shouldn't be able to do that in Jacksonville," said former Mayor John Delaney, who has been active in assembling supporters for the legislation.

According to the Florida Times-Union newspaper, the measure is being backed by a coalition of business organizations and elected officials, who are framing it largely as a tool for promoting business growth.

Jacksonville already has legislation that bans discrimination based on factors including race, gender and nationality, and the new measure would add sexual orientation and identity to that list. Delaney said he hopes to schedule a meeting with Mayor Alvin Brown about the measure. Councilman Warren Jones said he agreed to sponsor the bill after talking with retired politicians including Delaney and former Council President Matt Carlucci. 

"It's a matter of conscience," Jones said Monday. "To me, it’s not so much whether everyone agrees with the lifestyle or not. It's more whether you discriminate." 

Jones said he hopes to file legislation by noon Wednesday, a deadline for a bill being introduced at next week's council meeting. He said he may wait if he has questions or concerns about the wording in the bill. ~The Florida Times-Union

Brody's Scribbles... Civil Unions Close in CO

By Matt Baume | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA -- Civil unions advance in Colorado, but old foes are joining forces in Maine. There's just a few days left until North Carolina votes on an extreme constitutional amendment, and the race is getting closer and closer every day. And new research has shown a promising trend when it comes to public opinion.

Des DownUnder On Sundays

By Desmond Rutherford | ADELAIDE, S.A. AUSTRALIA -- Is ‘Gay’ a Religion?

The parroting purveyors of pious propaganda cannot claim that they weren’t warned; that if they continued to oppress reality their religious view would be openly challenged until becoming obvious that theirs is an insanity based on completely uncorroborated myths.

It can hardly be denied that human beings want, even need, something to believe in, but must that be delusional? Couldn’t it be as real as life itself; something that fills the void in the human spirit and yet we overlook it because it is so obvious that we continually miss its reality…the fact which makes us alive, makes life worth living, and creates life?

Well yes, there is, but the culture of religious belief is being used to conceal the reality of human nature.

“What’s wrong with that?” some might ask. “After all, the word of God is meant to guide us in overcoming the evils of human nature.”

Hold it right there! Those people are talking about their belief of what they believe is evil, and despite what that belief says about living under the rules of their God, those rules and belief cannot apply to anyone who believes otherwise.

What if there was a story, not based on a superstition, which fulfilled man’s need to believe in something?

Customary in ancient times, young men would leave the home of their fathers in search of fulfilment. Stories of many have become legends. One in particular became a well guarded anecdote, handed down, from generation to generation, in a secrecy necessary to avoid the wrath of those who disapprove of its meaning.

In one version, a father takes his son aside, in the spring of his eighteenth year, and says, “My son, you’ve reached an age when I have little more to teach you. It’s time to release you from my authority so that you may find your own way in life.”

The son, shaken by his father’s words, feared that his preoccupation with sex had upset his father.

“Have I done something wrong…have I lost your love?”

“Quite the opposite,” the father told his son, “You are now old enough to make your own decisions, and as long as you respect life, nothing you do will affect my love for you.”

Thinking about what ‘respect life’ meant, whilst slowly walking to his closest friend’s home, he’d decided to go on a quest, alone, to discover life’s meaning. The significance of the tears in his friend’s eyes escaped him, as he said, “You should do what you feel you must.”

Back home, he told his father about his journey of discovery.

“Whatever you do, my son, do no harm. But tell me, what is your quest; is it fame, fortune or something else?”

With typical youthful optimism, he told of his plan to search for the meaning of life, and upon finding it, he would return.

With heavy heart he watched his son’s preparations. He gave his son what he could, a small pouch of coins to help pay his way. As one last favour he asked his son to stop at the village temple to speak to the Oracle about his quest. The youth agreed, and departed.

The wise old Oracle listened as the youth explained his quest.

“Know thyself,” proclaimed the Oracle, followed by “To thine own self be true,” and so on, until the young dude interrupted, “I know all that, but I wanna know the meaning of life itself. I’ll go wherever I must, to find the answer.”

The Oracle was silent for a moment, and then told him, “I could show you, but...many come and do not understand.”

The young man nodded, noticeably mystified.

“Every man has a need to find meaning,” said the Oracle, “but each man has his own truth.”

“That’s why I’m going on my journey,” said the young man.

“Many men go on such a journey, seeking meaning for their lives, and few ever realise the truth.”

“I shall not stop until I am successful. I know there is much to learn and discover, but my very existence demands that I find the meaning of being alive.”

The Oracle was impressed with his enthusiasm and dedication.

“I can show you the symbol of life...it’s truth you must discover yourself. Do you know what is at this temple’s centre?”

“Oh, probably a statue of a god,” the youth muttered, somewhat frustrated by having to provide the obvious answer to the seemingly pointless question.

“A god?” exclaimed the Oracle.

“Yes.”

“But which god?”

“I don’t know…does it matter? All gods are the same.”

“This one isn’t.”

“None of them really exist.”

“This one does.”

“Can I see for myself?”

“That’s up to you,” said the Oracle, disparagingly.

The youth felt for coins in his leather pouch, but the Oracle stopped him. “Neither truth nor love can be bought with coins. Put your money away, and follow me.”

The Oracle led him into the temple and spoke, “Do you have a friend?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Is he not journeying with you?”

“No, I just told him I was going alone.”

“How did he take that news?”

“He told me I should do what I feel I must, but there were tears in his eyes.”

“He is a good friend,” said the Oracle.

“Do you know why he was crying?” he asked the Oracle.

“Yes, most likely I do, but that too, you must discover for yourself.”

Oracle and youth arrived at the innermost sanctum of the temple.

“Beyond this door is a stone statue of a god, or the answer to your quest. Either way, it is what all men seek. What you understand is entirely up to you.”

The young man looked apprehensively at the door, afraid of what he might discover, and almost turned to run out of the temple.

“You must enter alone,” intoned the Oracle, and, walking away, “only you can find your truth.”

The youth pushed the door open and timorously stepped into the heart of the temple. All he could see was a shiny polished stone pillar in the centre of the room, rising up from the floor to tower above him, and pointing at the sky through an ornate opening in the roof. He drew a sharp breath as he realised he was standing in front of a giant stone phallus.

In that moment, he knew that no matter how far his quest took him, no matter how long he searched, he’d find nothing more than what was already available to him, right there wherever he lived.

He turned and exited the temple to where the Oracle sat waiting on a rock.

“Thank you,” said the young man, “I have no need to look further; the answer has been right in front of me, all this time. The phallus is the symbol of life and love, and making love is something only the living can do.”

The Oracle smiled, silently.

The youth immediately returned to his friend, embracing him and sharing his discovery. He told him that he loved him, and asked to be his lover. His friend, having an infinite resource of tears, cried with joy. In those days sex was not condemned as a sin, and their families rejoiced when the two young men announced their betrothal.

All through their lives they would adore, respect and honour each other by making love; resurrecting love anew each day, creating a more loving world for all Mankind.

Such is the ancient story told throughout the ages, told to me, and now to you. Nothing is unreal or hidden; from the father who released his son from his authority, to the Oracle who guided the young man along the path of self-discovery...of sex being an expression of love.

Love is not a myth. It is our life’s objective, its reason, and we are subject to its passion. We have only to realise the simple reality of life, unlike with religions, which have concealed the truth in a subterfuge of ritualised superstition.

Love is as real as the Earth, the sun, the moon and the stars, and we can make it.

Gigantic phalluses are historical anthropological facts; from the Obelisks of ancient Egypt to similar structures in modern cities. Phallic totem poles of tribes exist around the world and the modern garden rock-columns mimic those piles of rocks that wandering tribes built to honour and worship the ‘prick of God’, references to which have systematically been obliterated from Biblical text.

Is gay a religion? We might as well ask if sex itself is a religion; it certainly has a large enough following. Neither religions nor atheists can deny that the phallus exists; can’t deny that consensual love-making gives us a heavenly experience. If that experience is interpreted as divine, then it is religious, regardless of gender, and being gay is one of its denominations; gay is part of our human tapestry, and it is good.

Gay now in peace and may your days be spent in making love, and whilst you’re at it, why not build a cemented column in your garden?

Brody's Notes... Georgetown University Law Student Sandra Fluke Disturbed By "Blatant Homophobia"

By Brody Levesque | WASHINGTON -- During an appearance on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" Thursday evening, Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke responded to Fox News conservative commentator Monica Crowley's tweet earlier in the day, responding to the news of Fluke getting engaged to her longtime boyfriend by tweeting, "To a man?"

Speaking to host Ed Schultz, Fluke said “I’m not going to let this kind of thing get to me personally. What really bothers me about it [is] the blatant homophobia in the comment, and the idea that that is an acceptable thing to say publicly.”

Fluke told Schultz that she was most disturbed that Crowley intended the tweet as an insulting joke.

“I don’t want an apology from anyone personally,” Fluke said. “I think it is possible she owes an apology to the LGBTQ community, because I am not offended to be asked whether or not I’m with a woman. It’s not offensive to me to be gay, but it was clearly meant as an insult.”

Fluke first gained national attention when she was denied the opportunity to appear before a U. S. House Committee and testify on women's health care issues. Later, after a public appearance sponsored by House Democratic members, conservative radio pundit Rush Limbaugh blasted her remarks labeling her a "slut" after she publicly advocated for birth control coverage. Limbaugh later apologised for his comments following massive backlash including loss of numerous advertisers but this week he again attacked Fluke for "coordinating" with Obama to "scare students about the interest rates on their loans."

In a separate interview with MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell Fluke dismissed Limbaugh's latest insults, telling O'Donnell that he [Limbaugh] "has become confused by his own propaganda."

Watch Fluke's full interview on MSNBC:

Brody's Scribbles... Service

By Bart Vogelzang | VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., CANADA -- Have you ever stopped to think about the term, ‘service industry’? I confess…I never did, till this morning. It just suddenly occurred to me that all those jobs in the service industry are jobs we’ve done entirely for ourselves in the past.

When you think of it as someone doing something for you that you could do for yourself, it becomes pretty obvious that you are wasting money; and conversely, someone else is being paid to do something that is entirely non-productive, even though it may be hard work, and feel useful to them.

Instead of making coffee for yourself, you pay someone to service that desire. You pay to have someone cook your food and serve it to you at a table, a table cleaned by another of the service staff, at which you were seated by yet another staff member, and possibly served a drink by yet another. At least 4, 5 or 6 if you count the cooks, people to serve you with what you could have done entirely for yourself. You’d darned well better have a seriously productive business to warrant that kind of treatment. What? You don’t? You’re a receptionist at a realty office? How ironic.

You too are a service worker, doing something that could be done by all those realtors simply picking up the phone, or greeting customers themselves. Oh no, didn’t we used to sell our own property, and not pass the job on to others…another service industry, disguised as something much more important.

Sadly, the list goes on, and you really need to analyze each career closely, to realize that we are essentially a pretty useless bunch, doing very little of real productive value, and mostly serving each other, in some kind of slowly shrinking circle of payment. The people that offer the flashiest services ‘earn’ the most, and they pass on their gains to those with less flash, in a decreasing cycle, much like a pendulum swings back and forth, but eventually comes to a stop. Near the bottom are those with the least glamorous service jobs.

Ironically enough, the most glamorous jobs, and often also the ones offering the least service, pretty much produce no ‘real’ benefit at all. Sports figures, from football to tennis to golf are prime examples. We don’t even do our own sports anymore…we pay handsomely to have others do that for us. Movie stars and TV stars are other blips on the radar of services we’ve demanded whilst giving up our own entertainment abilities. Not far behind are recording industry musicians, servicing our now latent innate musical abilities and needs.

Even better disguised are investment bankers, stockbrokers, and financial advisers. Not only do they feed solely on your money by using your money, they have complicated the system to the point where they have created a situation in which you, the ordinary person, will find it nearly impossible to wrest personal control back into your own hands. And then there are the educators. Instead of being part of a web of inspiration, they serve mainly to look after your children while you are away from home, and secondarily to train those children into uniform and obedient drones to mono-cultural society of consumers and servers. Just recently there was the threat of a teachers strike in my area, and the single biggest outcry was, ‘what are we going to do when there is no-one to look after the kids’. Education, regardless of what they bleat, is a new age service industry. Many kids these days can learn more, and faster, by doing their own exploration of the world via internet search engines, all without the fetters of conformity being shackled around their minds.

We mustn’t forget our inner psyches though. It used to be that people ‘communed with God’ on a personal basis, by living in the harsh but beautiful world, in the here and now, awed by a rainbow, a sunset, the night sky, the vastness of the plains with undulating grasses. No longer; now we pay huge amounts to have people service our spiritual needs. We place the entrancing preachers on pulpits around our nations, allowing them to expound their views to us, and thereby absolve us of any need to take care of our own consciences. Surely, that too has become a service industry. Surely we can each best serve as our own spiritual guide; it may actually be imperative that we do.

So are there any out there who are doing anything actually productive? Are there any who are doing something real, and not just serving others what those others could be doing for themselves? Of course there are. Mining and smelting ores into useful metals is something one cannot reasonably expect to do oneself. Growing enough food on the land to support yourself and your family is long gone…there are simply too many people for humanity to be able to sustain itself with individually grown crops or farm animals. Making cloth is similarly not possible for everyone, although sewing that cloth together into clothing can rightly be considered a service as well.

So what do we see as a pattern in this? Real productivity comes from resource extraction, and pretty much everything else is service. Unfortunately, resource extraction is exactly that, removal, and it will eventually end, when it runs out. What we have is a huge number of people all feeding off each other in ever decreasing amounts with ever decreasing values from ever decreasing resources, whilst fooling themselves and each other into thinking they are actually useful. Maybe we can elect a service rep, er, politician, to take care of the mess.

Brody's Notes... Senate Passes LGBT-Inclusive Domestic Violence Act

By Brody Levesque | WASHINGTON -- In a bipartisan 68-31 vote Thursday, the U. S. Senate passed the first LGBT-inclusive version of the Violence Against Women Act, in a reauthorisation bill which will now provide explicit protections for LGBT survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

"To be the target of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking is terrifying and traumatic," National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director Rea Carey said in a press statement issued after the bill passed. "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not immune from this violence, and their distress should not be further heightened by a lack of proper response from service providers or law enforcement. Imagine being assaulted, scared and in pain — and then being turned away from receiving basic services and care. No one should ever be subjected to such inhumane treatment."

The Violence Against Women Act- originally enacted in 1994- provides federal funding to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault and provides funds for victim service programs. Until today's action by the Senate, the act never had LGBT-inclusive provisions. This reauthorisation ensures that all people are able to access services regardless of his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Senators defeated an amendment, in a 36-63 vote, that would have rewritten the bill and excluded protections for LGBT violence victims.

Studies indicate that LGBT people experience domestic violence at roughly the same rate as the general population. Unfortunately, many LGBT victims have not been receiving the services they need because service providers and law enforcement are not engaged in outreach to the LGBT community, lack the cultural competency to effectively work with LGBT victims or do not have access to funding for appropriate services.

The Human Rights Campaign noted that the VAWA reauthorisation bill passed by the Senate strengthens essential services for LGBT victims of domestic violence in three key ways. First, the bill ensures that all programs or activities receiving funding from VAWA provide services regardless of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Second, it explicitly includes the LGBT community in the largest VAWA grant program, the “STOP Grant Program,” which provides funding to care providers who collaborate with prosecution and law enforcement officials to address domestic violence. Finally, the bill establishes a grant program specifically aimed at providing services and outreach to underserved populations, including those who face obstacles to care based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Senators from both sides of the aisle came together today to ensure that all domestic violence victims, including those who are LGBT, will not face discrimination when they seek victim services,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We applaud the Senate for recognizing the importance of this bill and taking bipartisan action, and we call on the House to do the same.”

The GOP majority controlled House of Representatives has yet to act on the reauthorisation bill, but is expected to vote on it as early as May.

Democratic House minority leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement shortly after the Senate's vote urging House colleagues to reauthorise VAWA.

"House Democrats, led by Congresswoman Gwen Moore, have proposed legislation that mirrors the bill passed by the Senate," she said. "Both bills extend defense against domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking; include provisions to expand the classes of victims who would be protected – including Native Americans and the LGBT community; and ensure protections for immigrants affected by domestic violence."

In Brief

Staff Reports

DADT Discharges Still Discriminate- Trio Of U. S. Senators Ask DOD To Fix Problem 
WASHINGTON -- In a letter Tuesday to Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, U.S.Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Joe Lieberman (I-CT),and Mark Udall (D-CO) asked the Secretary to use his authority to streamline the process for those discharged under the repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law in order to expedite discharge paperwork changes and upgrades. 

The Senators are asking DOD for a streamlined process for military veterans discharged under DADT with honorable or general discharges and whom are seeking changes to their narrative reason for discharge and their reentry code. The letter requests that the DOD clarify that the discharge review boards correct discharge paperwork upon receipt of a basic DD Form 293 application, provided that the board can then obtain the veteran’s paperwork, including the DD Form 214 and service record. It calls on the Defence Department to further clarify that, where there are no aggravating factors found in the service member’s record, the presumption should be in favor of correction. 

"For many, making changes to discharge paperwork is a matter of dignity and restoring honor to their patriotic service in our armed forces. For others, it's about qualifying for long overdue veteran's benefits. But for others, a discharge from the military for sexual orientation can be a barrier to employment and requires veterans to 'out' themselves to future employers. It's time to expedite this process to ensure that this discriminatory law doesn't do further damage to our veterans and their families," said Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis, who is also a Army veteran. 

Since the repeal of DADT in September 2011, the Department of Defense has issued guidance regarding how to handle applications by veterans separated on the basis of their sexual orientation who want to have their discharge paperwork changed. The guidance expands who is eligible to apply to have their documents reviewed and provides specifics on how these documents may be changed. However, for a variety of reasons, each of these must be handled one by one. 

This past January the SLDN unveiled an online toolkit designed to help LGBT veterans who were discharged for sexual orientation and wish to make changes or upgrades to their discharge paperwork. Since then, SLDN has helped more than 150 LGBT veterans seeking to make these changes. 

Editor's Note: To view the toolkit or request assistance, click here.

Full text of the letter:


The Honorable Leon E. Panetta
Secretary of Defense 
United States Department of Defense 
1000 Defense Pentagon 
Washington, DC 20301

Dear Secretary Panetta,

When the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) took effect on September 20, 2011, then-Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. Clifford Stanley issued a memorandum providing guidance to the military services regarding applications from veterans separated on the basis of their sexual orientation seeking changes to their discharge paperwork. The memorandum made clear that Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) “should normally grant requests to change the narrative reason for a discharge…[and that] requests to re-characterize the discharge to honorable and/or requests to change reentry codes to an immediately-eligible-to-reenter category” should be granted when the original discharge was based solely on DADT and there “were no aggravating factors in the record, such as misconduct.” The guidance goes on to say that while “each request must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,” having “an honorable or general discharge should normally…indicate the absence of aggravating factors.

While this guidance was an important step in the right direction, it is insufficient for the vast majority of veterans discharged under DADT. The current process is protracted and overly burdensome for veterans who—according to Dr. Stanley’s guidance—should be entitled to have their discharge documents corrected. Our understanding is that many veterans who meet the criteria outlined above must first gather their service-related paperwork, which many veterans do not possess. The veteran must then file an application with the supporting documentation to overcome the presumption of the DRB that the discharge was proper. To accomplish this, the veteran must argue that the discharge should be changed according to the standards of “propriety” or “equity,” per DRB regulations. Only after overcoming this presumption will the DRB change the discharge paperwork.

We understand that changing discharge paperwork is not a small matter and that in most cases, a careful case-by-case evaluation is warranted. But as long as a former service member’s Narrative Reason for a discharge is “Homosexual Conduct,” “Homosexual Act” or “Homosexual Marriage,” that service member is compelled to be “out” to any future civilian employer and anyone else who sees the document. Likewise, the negative reentry code serves as a barrier to employment opportunities.

Therefore, the process should be streamlined for those veterans discharged under DADT who have honorable or general discharges and only seek changes to their narrative reason for discharge and their reentry code. We thus respectfully request that the Department clarify that DRBs shall correct discharge paperwork upon receipt of a basic DD Form 293 application, provided that the DRB can then obtain the veteran’s DD Form 214 and service record. The Department should further clarify that, where there are no aggravating factors in the service member’s record, the presumption should be in favor of correction.

Veterans who were discharged under DADT should not be compelled to carry with them a narrative reason for separation that indicates their sexual orientation to anyone who sees their discharge document. In order to begin to put the regrettable policy of DADT fully behind us, the process of getting these documents corrected needs to be accessible and achievable for all. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Tennessee Lawmaker Says Bullying Is Because Of Bad Parenting

State Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby)

NASHVILLE, TN -- Republican representative Jeremy Faison created a controversy on the house floor Tuesday during a debate over a proposed cyberbullying bill, HB 2641. In his remarks he told his fellow lawmakers that failure to instill proper values by parents in the victims of bullying is what leads young people to commit suicide.

“We can’t continue to legislate everything. We’ve had some horrible things happen in America and in our state, and there’s children that have actually committed suicide, but I will submit to you today that they did not commit suicide because of somebody bullying them. They committed suicide because they were not instilled the proper principles of where their self-esteem came from at home,” Faison said. 

A spokesperson for the Tennessee Democratic Party immediately reacted to Representative Faison's comments on the TDP's website writing:

"Faison is apparently blaming the parents of suicide victims for their inability to “instill the proper principles” in their children. What a disgrace. Now, of course a tall and burly Faison doesn’t see any problems with bullying, as he admitted, he was perfectly capable of defending himself or dishing out punishment as he saw fit. But many kids don’t have that ability. That is why laws like these need to be passed.  

It is unfortunate that some in the Republican Party have become the protectors of bullies. Of course, it is not terribly surprising, because as a legislative group they are nothing but bullies, disparaging and demeaning those without power in this country in order to build themselves up. So it is no wonder that they would see no big deal with the problems associated with childhood bullying in this country, and become the defenders of harassment."

A source in the offices of Tennessee House Speaker, Republican State Representative Beth Harwell, told LGBTQNation that Faison may have been referring to the recent suicides by Phillip Parker and Jacob Rogers, both of whom had allegedly complained of being bullied over their sexual orientation.
Late Wednesday evening Faison issued a statement saying that he regretted the choice of words and that his opposition to cyberbullying legislation is rooted in a belief that lawmakers should not criminalise childhood bullying.

“After reviewing my comments on the House Floor today, I regret what was a poor choice of words. My true intent was to protect children from becoming criminals. Suicide has touched my family, and I would never want a parent or family member to feel they were responsible for such an unimaginable tragedy.” 

Tennessee’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill was approved by a state House committee last week on Tuesday. The Tennessee state House Education Committee approved the legislation by a vote of 8-7. The measure had initially failed on a voice vote, but passed in a roll call vote requested by its sponsor. The proposed legislation would restrict all sexually related instruction in the state’s schools to “natural human reproduction science” in grades kindergarten through eighth.

Brody's Notes... Russian Gay Teen Imprisoned In Drug Rehab For Coming Out Is Released

Marshak drug rehabilitation facility.

By Brody Levesque | MOSCOW, RUSSIA -- 16 year old Ivan Kharchenko spent 12 days in the Marshak drug rehabilitation facility after being forcibly admitted by his irate traditionalist father, who was angered when Ivan came out as openly gay earlier this month. According to LGBTQ equality rights activist Dmitry Aleshkovsky, Kharchenko's friends and his supporters staged an improvised siege of the facility, freeing him and placed him in the custody of his mother, who said she was not opposed to her son's being gay.

Aleshkovsky said that the State Duma deputy from the Just Russia party, Ilya Ponomaryov along with Violetta Volkova, a human rights lawyer, took on the young teen's case and participated in successfully having him released from the facility. Both insisting that Kharchenko's placement in the rehab without his consent amounted to kidnapping.

Russian journalist Alex Eremenko said that Kharchenko publicly admitted his homosexuality at his 16th birthday earlier this month. His announcement did not disturb his classmates and peers, but angered his relatives including his grandmother who tricked her grandson into going to a “witch” who unsuccessfully attempted to exorcize the “spirit of homosexuality” from him.

After the failure to exorcise the youth's "homosexuality" his father took Kharchenko to the drug clinic and left him there allegedly against his will. “I’d rather have you disabled or a vegetable than gay,” the boy’s father was cited as saying to a local radio station. 

According to the activists who managed to free the teen, Kharchenko was so drugged he was forgetting his friends’ names although he had placed a banner apparently addressed to his boyfriend declaring his love in his window in the rehab which promptly taken down by clinic staffers. Kharchenko was released on late Tuesday and spent the night at his mother’s after his grandmother refused to take him back. 

A spokesman for the Moscow Militia, [Police] said that law enforcement officials would be investigating the claims of false imprisonment and kidnapping. 

LGBTQ equality rights is a controversial topic now in the Russian Federation largely due to recent laws were passed by lawmakers in three regions including Russia's second largest city, St. Petersburg, that bans discussion of homosexuality to minors. 

That vaguely-worded piece of legislation was denounced as homophobic propaganda by LGBT activists in Russia and beyond, but a bill proposing to spread the ban nationwide was later introduced into the Russian national parliament known as the State Duma and is pending review. 

Ninety-four percent of Russians said they have never encountered gay propaganda, but 86 percent still support a ban on it, according to a poll by state-run television earlier this month. During a recent broadcast discussing LGBTQ rights, approximately 60 percent of some 750 callers at Radio Ekho Moskvy said their offspring being gay would be a “tragedy” for them.

In Brief

Staff Reports 

California Senate Committee Advances Bill Protecting Those Under Age 18 From Undergoing Any Sexual Reparative Therapy 

Calif. State Senator Ted Lieu, D

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Legislation that is designed help protect LGBTQ citizens from what critics charge is harmful and ineffective ex-gay therapy- authored by State Senator Ted Lieu, (D-Redondo Beach) and sponsored by the LGBTQ equality rights advocacy group, Equality California- advanced through a Senate Committee Monday. The measure, California Senate Bill 1172, does not outright ban all ex-gay therapy, but it does prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from undergoing sexual orientation change efforts. 

It also requires that any prospective patient sign an informed consent form that includes the following disclaimer: 

“Having a lesbian, gay, or bisexual sexual orientation is not a mental disorder. There is no scientific evidence that any types of therapies are effective in changing a person’s sexual orientation. Sexual orientation change efforts can be harmful." 

In a statement released after the committee vote, Clarissa Figlioun, Board President of Equality California, said: 

“It’s long past time to do everything in our power to put an end to the use of therapy tactics that have no sound scientific basis and that cause lifelong damage.” 

A legislative aide to California Democratic Governor Jerry Brown, told LGBTQNation that Brown will almost certainly sign the bill into law. Numerous mental health care professionals and their organisations including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Counseling Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, oppose the use of sexual orientation change efforts citing risks that include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior. 

Ex-gay therapy has been debunked repeatedly but the groups that promote ex-gay therapy insist that the evidence supports their traumatic practices. One of the leading proponents of "ex-gay" therapy, the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), opposes the measure. In a statement, NARTH said: 

”While this is a direct assault on everyone’s freedom it is also a not so subtle attack on religious liberty… Individuals of faith often seeking to live lives congruent with their religious convictions are often motivated to seek help for their homosexual attractions. This type of legislation would in effect criminalize those formerly ethical relationships between a client and their therapist unless those interactions were supervised by agents of the state.” 

NARTH has previously used a now retracted study by Dr Robert Spitzer, which claimed that “highly motivated” people can change their sexual orientation, though, notably, his study only looked into the conversion of gay and bisexual people into heterosexuals, and not the other way around. 

Supporters of SB 1172 have labeled it model legislation that applies scientific knowledge to the benefit of the general welfare of all citizens. Supporters also indicated that SB 1172 is an important step forward to protect gay youth and limit the dangerous, traumatic negative impact of ex-gay therapy.

Brody's Scribbles... When Will It Happen Again?

By Bart Vogelzang | VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C. CANADA -- As a responsible adult, and one who pretty much appreciates everyone I meet, if not actually going so far as to like or love them for just being, I cannot support violence against others, yet I cannot help but wonder, “When will it happen again?”

Not that it hasn’t happened before, as one can see when reviewing topical headlines over the last few years; “Fired man takes co-workers hostage, kills two, takes own life.” “Frustrated welfare client kills case worker, then takes own life.” Teen, bullied for years, shoots up school then turns gun on himself.” “Car deliberately driven into crowd.” People, most often men, frustrated beyond their endurance level, decide to take steps to alter things…sometimes in detrimental ways.

When someone is frustrated and pained by continual harassment, bullying, unfair actions and language, and nobody does anything about it, or worse, nobody even gives the victim any credence at all, they really only see three possibilities; continue as is, which is a nearly impossible challenge since everyone feels the need to reduce pain or, become very depressed, and thereby start to shut down all aspects of their lives or, decide to take action. The first two of those have perilous results awaiting them, and the last one has only a chance of a successful outcome.

Continuing to just accept the status quo, and being ground down, minute by minute, utterance by utterance, hour by hour, day upon day, as weeks turn to months turn to years, will almost certainly leave the person as a totally useless, self-pitying, self-loathing husk of his/her former individuality.

Unfortunately, a great number of people descend partway down the path of accepting their torture, and then slip into a spiral of depression. Before they know it, they can no longer see out of their despair enough to even seek help. They have been pushed so deep that it becomes impossible to even contemplate assistance being available, and so they don’t even call a Helpline, like the Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386) or Childhelp (1-800-422-4453), despite the resources and supports that such organizations offer. Consequently, we see all too many headlines about another bullied child having committed suicide. What a shame. What a waste. What a disaster for each one of them.

However, it is the last group of sufferers, the one that encompasses those who decide to make a change, which has the greatest possibilities for either good outcomes, or horrendous catastrophes. No matter where someone might be on their abused trail, even if at the very brink of causing their own self-destruction, they can change. It is always possible to learn to cope, with a change of perspective, and that is the truest benefit of those help lines; their capacity for enabling the abuse victim to find the will to turn away from the abyss. Emotional support, guidance, and the referral of services never before known to the abuse victim can all help him/her move towards an improving existence, step by step. Just like an overweight person not being able to recover their svelte figure overnight, anyone deep in understandable depression will need time, as well as support, to get to a truly healthful place. That first turn identifies the path, but many steps will need to be taken in the days ahead.

The dark side though, is never far away. There are going to be some, and probably a growing number, who will opt for a change, but instead of that change being to seek help onto the path of personal betterment, they act on their problems wholly by themselves, with variable results.

Much of our society is busy removing the unwanted from our lives, from cutting out and even poisoning weeds, to killing pesky insects, to culling nuisance animals, to medically excising cysts and cancers. We’ve even seen, recently, that in some states there are laws ‘protecting’ one’s right to the violent killing of another person as long as one claims to have felt ‘threatened’. It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that anyone seeing that type of ‘problem solving’ as a common occurrence all around them, may well do some similar ‘problem solving’ of their own, with equally deadly consequences. Without clear-cut alternatives, some of the abused have reacted this way, and they didn’t always take only their abusers with them. What a shame. What a waste. What a disaster for each of us.

Each time administrations permit violent actions against another this terrible problem solving technique will be reinforced, making future disasters more likely. Each time bullying is permitted to continue disaster is inexorably nearing. Each time a cost cutting measure removes a part of the emotional safety net, we are all the more at risk. Each utterance of intolerance by authorities, by clergy, by parents, by peers is another nail in that coffin waiting to greet us should someone not be able to take it any more. What a stupid shame. What an unnecessary mess. What an unforgivable loss…waiting to happen again? 

Brody's Notes... President Obama Remembers Gay Victims Of The Holocaust

President Obama addresses audience at the U. S. Holocaust Museum
Official White House Photo ~ Pete Souza

By Brody Levesque | WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama spoke at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to mark Yom HaShoah, or the Holocaust Remembrance Day, and during his speech the president referred directly to the homosexual victims of Nazi persecution. 

Mr. Obama was introduced by Professor Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, and as he spoke before an audience of around 250 persons, he stressed the importance of telling young people children—and all future generations—about that dark and evil time in human history.

"We must tell our children about a crime unique in human history… The one and only Holocaust — six million innocent people — men, women, children, babies — sent to their deaths just for being different, just for being Jewish. We tell them, our children, about the millions of Poles and Catholics and Roma and gay people and so many others who also must never be forgotten. We must tell our children. But more than that, we must teach them. Because remembrance without resolve is a hollow gesture. Awareness without action changes nothing.  

In this sense, "never again" is a challenge to us all -- to pause and to look within. For the Holocaust may have reached its barbaric climax at Treblinka and Auschwitz and Belzec, but it started in the hearts of ordinary men and women. And we have seen it again -- madness that can sweep through peoples, sweep through nations, embed itself. The killings in Cambodia, the killings in Rwanda, the killings in Bosnia, the killings in Darfur -- they shock our conscience, but they are the awful extreme of a spectrum of ignorance and intolerance that we see every day; the bigotry that says another person is less than my equal, less than human. These are the seeds of hate that we cannot let take root in our heart."

Nearly 100,000 homosexual men were arrested by the Nazis, with an indeterminate number of those dying in the concentration camps. Forced to wear a pink triangle as a badge marking the reason for their imprisonment similar to Jews who were forced to wear yellow 'Stars Of David', they met cruel treatment not just at the hands of the Nazis, but even from fellow prisoners. The Obama administration has made it clear that a policy of "preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States of America." Last year he issued a Presidential Directive to make sure that the U.S. has the neccesary structures and mechanisms in place to prevent and respond to mass atrocities. He also established an Atrocities Prevention Board to bring together senior officials from across the government to focus on this critical mission.

Brody's Scribbles... Search is on for CO Civil Union Sponsor

By Matt Baume | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA -- Civil unions head to the Senate in Colorado, but nobody seems to be quite sure who's going to sponsor the bill once it reaches the House. Early voting's begun in North Carolina, just in time for a big TV ad buy starting this week. And the bumpy road to repealing Ohio's marriage ban just got bumpier.

Des DownUnder On Sundays

By Desmond Rutherford | ADELAIDE,SA, AUSTRALIA -- Silence Is Not Golden

Students expect to be educated, not conditioned.

The desire to replace the 'Classical' education system ushered in what I will generously call ‘different’ objectives for education. Whether or not this was a good idea, and I think we can all admit that some things needed to change, seems to have been irrelevant to the bullying culture that thrived under the older system and is still prevalent today. The subservience of younger students, to some teachers and older students, was entrenched, and continues under the new educational objectives, even if somewhat surreptitiously. 

Worse, the authoritarian teachers of the older system lamented the loss of their ability to impose disciplinary corporal punishment. Already part of the authoritarian teachers' resources, verbal abuse remained as a means for them to belittle students regardless of any wrongdoing, on any matter. These tyrannical teachers’ behaviour made it very difficult for caring teachers to curb bullying, especially in schools still controlled by the punishment/belittling mentality, carried over from the older system.

Additionally, the 'new, improved' system of education was primarily aimed at 'conditioning' the student to fit into culture, society and industry requirements on a ‘need to know’ basis. This further discouraged intellectual growth, critical evaluation and individual thought. 

Origins of knowledge were sacrificed to the cause of making kids compliantly ignorant, if not actually submissive to the demands of their culture. Under the new educational objectives, theoretical discussions are displaced by convenient rules to follow and not to be questioned.

If a young modern Galileo wanted to question the rate of descent of a falling object, he would first have to prove that it would be relevant to his seemingly predetermined menial servile employment…if he was ‘lucky’ enough to get any job opportunity at all. Secondly, he would have to find a teacher who knew, let alone was even interested in, what he was talking about. It is much easier to train kids to believe, according to the methods of Dark Age cultural repression, than invest them with the rational means to question by using their inquiring young minds.

It's hardly surprising that when the successfully conditioned graduates of these 'conditioning' classes became the authoritarian school district administrators, they sought to impose limits; not on bullying, but on furthering the potential of young people's minds. When combined with zealous irrational belief, and the instilled fear of the school being sued for wrongful activity of any kind, it is easy to see why so many school officials cannot understand the need to incorporate LGBTQ equalities and anti-bullying programs into the school curriculum. They defend the indefensible restrictions on education, by ignoring the need to broaden the students’ knowledge...let alone provide an encouraging and rational learning environment; free from bullies, whether they be fellow students, school administrators, teachers or parents.

Taking down the bullies has to start with taking down those who empower the bullying. That’s not the onlookers, who are victims of their conditioning too, nor only the schools. Indeed, bullying is empowered by every institution that seeks to limit an individual’s ability to say, “No, I won’t be limited, I want the freedom to be me. I do not want to be what you want, but whoever it is that I can be, with all the good I might achieve. Now, teach me, provide me with the means to let me become all that I can be, or get out of my way.” 

Unfortunately, the mentality of those oppressors to our individual human rights is running rampant through every institution of our cultures; from organised religion to corrupt politicians and greedy corporations. 

I understand the reasoning behind the Day of Silence, but since I came out many years ago, I've discovered that silence is not my forte´. In my lifetime, ‘the love that dare not speak its name” has become the love that won’t stop shouting for its human right to be accepted.

Thankfully, I see that it is acceptable, on the Day of Silence, to speak up to raise awareness of the intimidation that students and minorities face. In that spirit, and because I was taught, under the older 'classical' brand of education that, "silence is legally considered to be consent," - and I certainly don’t consent to anyone having their human rights silenced - I shout my support to stop the bullying, the intimidation and harassment of anyone.

For every group of students who participate in the Day of Silence, we need someone, no longer a student, who is unafraid to rebel against rules and authority, to scream loudly and with indignation, "Look at what we have done to our young! The only way that they can protest, the only way that they can draw attention to the anguish of their torment, the only way that they have left to them to claim their humanity, is to publicly gag themselves. That's just wrong…end the bullying, now!”

In Brief

Staff Reports 

Nebraska's Capital City Set To Consider LGBTQ Fairness Ordinance 

By Chris Dyer | LINCOLN NE -- Councilmen Carl Eskridge is set to introduce a fairness ordinance, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected class's in the city of Lincoln. Eskridge said at a press conference Thursday,

"This is an issue of fundamental fairness in terms of how we treat a segment of our population in Lincoln, I don't expect to see as much controversy, that occurred in Omaha, where over 100 people spoke against the measure including filmmaker Alexander Payne, and Nebraska assistant football coach Ron Brown. If passed Lincoln would join the list of over 200 other cities that have protections in place for the LGBTQ community," Eskridge adding, " I have the full support of Mayor Chris Beutler, and enough support from the seven member council to adopt the measure."

Lincoln is closer knit community, kinder and more understanding" a group of clerical leaders are set to meet Saturday to voice their support for the measure, along with small business throughout the city. Members of a local equality group by the name of Outlink, took their concerns to councilmen Eskridge after he was elected in May of 2011. 

Outlink president Tyler Richard told LGBTQNation, "People in Lincoln who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered face significant barriers" The ordinance will be introduced April 30th, the public hearing will be May 7th, and the council will vote on the ordinance on the 14th of May. 73% of Nebraskans believe discrimination based on Sexual orientation is wrong according to a 2011 poll. Lincoln was the first city in Nebraska to have a human rights organization, Richard said " We want to keep Lincoln's tradition of standing up for fairness."

In Brief

Staff Reports

Louisiana Lawmaker Kills Anti-Bullying Measure After GOP Colleagues Strip Specifications Including Sexual Orientation

BATON ROUGE, LA -- A measure intended to strengthen the state's current law that addresses bullying in schools by adding language that extended the definition to acts "a reasonable person under the circumstances would perceive as being motivated by an actually or perceived characteristic, including but not limited to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, exceptionalities, physical disability, intellectual disability, developmental disability, mental illness or emotional health disorder, language ability, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, political ideas or affiliations, socioeconomic status or association with others identified by such characteristics," was voted down in a 10-5 House committee vote Wednesday, stripping the bill of those key changes, which included sexual orientation.

Democratic Representative Pat Smith from Baton Rouge had championed House Bill 407 as necessary, given continued evidence of bullying, including a recent suicide by a Point Coupee teenager who Smith pointed out emotionally had gone to adults numerous times complaining of being bullied by her pers and classmates.

Current law requires local school boards to write policies that prohibit "harassment, intimidation and bullying." It defines those terms, in part, as, "any intentional gesture or written, verbal or physical act that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effective of harming a student or damaging his property or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm."

After the vote was taken, Smith announced she was tabling the bill saying that GOP lawmakers actions gutted its intent. The opposition, led by the lead by the conservative Louisiana Family Forum along with support from aides to Republican Governor Bobby Jindal claimed the measure was out of line in listing perceived or actual characteristics that should not subject a student to bullying.

Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills, who said he's an ordained minister, told lawmakers, that the bill "introduces sexual politics" into the classroom and would discriminate against religious expression. "You could make a criminal bully out of a child who holds an orthodox view of Christianity."

Smith said the current definitions are too vague, and that many teachers and school administrators aren't well trained to recognize bullying, with some behaviors dismissed as "teasing." Worse, she said, some school employees choose not to protect certain students because of their own personal beliefs. 

Rep. Jeff Thompson, a Bossier City Republican who proposed stripping the list, said: "It's the action, not the motive, that constitutes bullying." 

Jindal aide Russell Armstrong said the governor believes an enumerated list creates winners and losers. Jindal later sidestepped a question about Smith's bill, saying he "supports a bill ... to protect children." He didn't say what bill, though some lawmakers have filed other measures that have yet to be heard. Jindal said local school boards should develop anti-bullying policies. 

Tiffany Phelps, who runs an extracurricular arts studio in New Roads, tearfully recounted her conversations with 17-year-old Tesa Middlebrook about being bullied at Pointe Coupee Parish Central High School.

"We reported it. We reported it to the right people. ... Nothing happened," Phelps said. Middlebrook was found hanging from the bleachers of the school football stadium in March. ~The Times-Picayune-nola.com

Pew Research Poll: Social Issues Rank as Lowest Priorities

(Click To Enlarge)

WASHINGTON -- As voters continue to focus on the economy and jobs as top issues, Barack Obama's lead over Mitt Romney has narrowed from a 12 points last month to a slim 49% to 45% advantage. Neither candidate has a clear advantage on the economy or jobs issues, which more than eight-in-ten voters cited as "very important" to their choice. Some of the hot-button social issues, like gay marriage and birth control, are at the bottom of the electorate's agenda.

More than eight-in-ten voters say the economy (86%) and jobs (84%) are very important issues in deciding who to vote for this fall. Roughly three-quarters also cite the federal budget deficit (74%), health care (74%) and education (72%) as top voting priorities. Near the bottom of the list are some of the hot-button social issues. Just 28% say that gay marriage is a very important issue, and 34% rate birth control as a top issue.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted April 4-15, 2012 among 3,008 adults, including 2,373 registered voters, shows that Obama continues to owe his lead to support from women, college graduates, blacks, Latinos and lower income voters – all of whom support him over Romney by double-digits.

The gender gap remains comparable to those in previous surveys during the current campaign, as well as past election cycles; women favor Obama by a 53% to 40% margin; among men voters, 50% favor Romney, while 44% back Obama. Obama has lost ground among both men and women at about the same rate over the past month.

With nearly all voters concerned about the economy, neither candidate has a clear advantage on the issue. Those who say the economy and jobs will be very important to their vote divide their support almost evenly between Obama and Romney. But the candidates each have advantages on other top-tier issues. Health care and education voters favor Obama by double-digits. Those who rank the federal budget deficit as a top priority favor Romney by a 57% to 38% margin. Romney is also the preferred candidate among those who rank Iran as very important, while Obama leads among those who cite the environment.

While birth control is one of the lowest ranking issues, Obama holds a substantial 56% to 37% lead among voters who rate this as very important. Birth control is significantly more important to women (40% very important) than men (27%), but the gender gap is no greater than over issues like education and health care, which women also rate as more important voting concerns.

Brody's Scribbles... Idea’s Illegitimate Cousin

By Bart Vogelzang | VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, CANADA -- People have been modifying our world for eons, sometimes by simple happenstance, but much more often by coming up with ideas for change, and then implementing them. Let’s be honest; we all prefer the world around us to be as comfortable and easy to deal with as possible. If we can do something about it, we will work to fix things so they go the way we want.

We go to school to learn how to do things, not to mention expanding our horizons, so that we can think up further innovative ideas to implement. Many of us develop long-term plans, which are completed over many years, all being aimed at improving our lot in life.

Unfortunately, not everyone desires innovation in their lives, and don’t even seek to just coast along at status quo, but will instead go to some effort to persuade others to make changes not directly benefiting themselves. They have discovered a devious method of influencing others; by proffering their unsolicited opinion.

Opinion, like any legitimate idea, has some innovation or creativity of thought behind it, but with the sole purpose of causing someone to consider acting or thinking differently. Unsolicited expressions of opinion seem to only benefit those who utter them, in creating some form of self-affirmation, rather than doing anything for the listener.

That is not to say that opinions cannot be good ones, seeking to better the world’s woes, but they most definitely cannot stand on their own, needing effort on someone else’s part to achieve anything.

Whereas ideas can be personal convictions to be shared so that everyone involved with them works together to move forward towards a cause or goal, opinions are predominantly convictions that can tear apart what has already been achieved, or work actively to dissuade further progress.

The diversity of opinions expressed can be many, and somewhat amusing to observe, as each stated opinion nearly always contradicts others, with seldom any movement towards a positive result. Opinions about people’s thinking or behaviour is particularly counter-productive, as hardly anybody has ever changed their way of thinking, or started acting differently, based solely on another’s opinion. An idea, freely offered, might cause positive change, but unsolicited opinion, recognized almost instantly by everyone as being a criticism, will usually just cause the recipient to ‘dig in their heels’ and refuse to even consider budging.

Right wing opinions will never succeed at queering any LGBTQ person’s intrinsic knowledge of their own sexuality without resorting to completely irrational arguments. I’m sure they are intended to, but it just cannot happen. Gay opinions offered about right wing opinion givers stand a much better chance of succeeding because they are based on fact. Until a legitimate idea comes along that everyone can work with, illegitimate opinions will just keep being used ineffectively, sadly not even satisfying any of those slinging them.

And yes, this is my opinion, already queered, and I hope to change everyone’s minds about offering opinions, but I know better to expect that to happen…but it is fun trying.

Brody's Journal... San Francisco and HIV- Answering the Call For 30 years

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- From the moment the disease took hold, San Francisco responded with courage and hope. That legacy continues today. It began in April of 1982 in a small office space above Castro Street. Co-founder and activist Cleve Jones describes the early days of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the community's response to HIV/AIDS, and his vision for the future.

The World In Brief

Staff Reports

Anglican Archbishop Of Wales Backs Same-Sex Marriage In UK

Dr Barry Morgan  via Facebook

LLANDDUDNO, WALES, UK -- The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, lent his support to same-sex marriage during an impassioned plea for Anglicans to be more tolerant towards homosexuals during a meeting of the church’s governing body Tuesday. The archbishop said, “All life-long committed relationships deserved the welcome, pastoral care and support of the Church," adding that Christians "need to show how the Gospel of Jesus is good news for gay people". He said the church had to ask itself whether it would "protect and support pastorally, faithful, stable, lifelong relationships of whatever kind in order to encourage human values such as love and fidelity and recognise the need in Christian people for some public religious support for these".

Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, which follows theological doctrine dictated by the Vatican, the Church of England is filled with Bishops who hold a variety of views on controversial topics such as homosexuality and the consecration of women bishops.

The majority of the archbishop's address dealt with the ongoing debate over the competing theological arguments surrounding same-sex marriage, even though the current government proposals only effect civil marriages and will not force religious organisations to conduct weddings for same sex couples.

However he called on his church to support the government’s desire to allow gay men and women to marry in a civil environment. "If the legislation to allow civil marriage is passed, I cannot see how we as a church, will be able to ignore the legality of the status of such partnerships and we ought not to want to do so,” he said.

Morgan also said he was concerned about the welfare of gay people whom he feared could feel uncomfortable and unwelcome in churches over the coming months as prime minister David Cameron's backed proposals for same-sex marriage are debated nationally."

Olympic Diving Champion Comfortable As An Icon For LGBTQ People

Matthew Mitcham

SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA -- Openly gay Olympic gold medalist diving champion Matthew Mitcham, 24, in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday says he's comfortable being seen as an icon for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

In the interview, Mitcham said that he doesn't mind the attention paid to his personal life.

"I certainly don't see it as a burden," he said after training in Sydney. "I never did, especially with how much attention the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered] cause has been getting lately with marriage equality … and with how few openly gay sports stars there are around at the moment. I don't mind attention being put on it."

Mitcham added, "Ideally I would like one day for sexuality to be as unimportant and uninteresting as hair colour, or eye colour or even just gender in general. One day it will get to that. But until it is easy for sports people to come out without fear of persecution or fear of lost sponsorship income and stuff like that, or fear of being comfortable in the team environment, I don't mind attention being brought to my sexuality in the hope that it might make other people feel more comfortable … in being comfortable enough about who they are in their sporting environment."

After discussing that topic, Mitcham indicated that his main purpose in going to the summer Olympic games in London will not be to champion a cause or belief, but to win a gold medal in an event in which he knows he will face some stiff competition.

Mitcham, who has been plagued by injuries including competing through the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India with stress fractures in his spine, and then suffering a grade two to three tear to his rectus abdominis that sidelined him until last December, is preparing to defend his title in London this summer. Mitcham appears to be back in top form, attracting perfect 10s from all seven judges on one of his dives to post a plus-550 score at the Australian trials in Adelaide earlier this month.

Iranian Cleric Describes Politicians Who Pass Laws Protecting LGBT People As Being "Worse Than Pigs And Dogs"

Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli

QOM, IRAN -- Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli, a conservative Iranian politician and one of the prominent Islamic scholars of the seminary of traditional Islamic learning who has authority to deliver decisions based on Shariah law, recently proclaimed in reference to gay persons having sex, “Even animals … dogs and pigs don’t engage in this disgusting act, but yet they [western politicians] pass laws in favour of them in their parliaments. If a society commits a new sin, it will face a new punishment. Problems like Aids did not exist before.”

Iran’s parliament has approved amendments of the punishments for male sodomy whereby the man sodomised will be put to death, but the man who performs the act, providing it is consensual and he is not married, is liable only to flogging.