I recently watched the film entitled Any Day Now directed by Travis Fine and written by Travis Fine and George Arthur Bloom. The movie stars Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt who play a gay couple that are granted custody of a boy with Down syndrome after his mother is sent to prison. The movie is a touching and honest account of the trials and tribulations that the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community faced in terms of how society saw them. Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) and Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope) were excellent in their roles as Rudy Donatello and Paul Fleiger.
Here is the trailer for the movie:
I made a conscious decision not to raise a family – that decision wasn’t because I felt I couldn’t, because I know I would be a great father, it was because I didn’t want to. After watching this film, many emotions surfaced on the topic of gay adoption and how society views same-sex couples. There are many people who believe that gay men and women would not make great parents because of their lifestyle. Many believe that it is a perverted and deviant lifestyle and that we are all pedophiles who only love to have promiscuous sex. They believe the stereotypes because that is all they know of what it is to be born homosexual. Yes, there are same-sex couples who are not fit to have children just as there are heterosexuals who are also not fit to raise children. It is not difficult to have a child, anyone can do it. Not anyone can provide a loving and nurturing home however, if there are loving, committed people (who happen to be of the same-sex) that can do so, why are so many still not allowed to do so? I believe it is because of the social stereotypes that are associated with being gay or lesbian (we know what they are). I also believe that religion plays a big factor on the issue of homosexuality – many people have interpreted the bible to justify their hate, bigotry and intolerance for homosexuals which, in turn, perpetuates those stereotypes.
Basically – isn’t it in societies best interest to find a home for so many children in foster care? Here are some statistics:
In the U.S. 400,540 children are living without permanent families in the foster care system. 115,000 of these children are eligible for adoption, but nearly 40% of these children will wait over three years in foster care before being adopted.
Around the world, there are an estimated 153 million orphans who have lost one parent. There are 17,900,000 orphans who have lost both parents and are living in orphanages or on the streets and lack the care and attention required for healthy development. These children are at risk for disease, malnutrition, and death.
With these types of statistics, why is there so much ‘red-tape’ in finding permanent, loving and stable homes for these children – including those who are in same-sex relationships? When will society (along with religious institutions and government) act on the best interests of these children and resolve to finding loving and nurturing homes for them? I believe that there are enough people who want to provide homes for these children – that isn’t the problem. The problem is the process and all the ‘red-tape’ involved which only further hurts all those children who are waiting to be adopted by those who have so much love in their hearts to give.
Thank you to Travis Fine and George Arthur Bloom for their inspirational words. Thanks to Travis Fine for making such a great and important film and thank you to all the actors (especially Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt) who gave all their passion to bring the words and emotions of Travis Fine and Arthur Bloom to life. You are all conduits for positive change in this world.
Together, we can make the world a more positive one!
As we head into the month of June – many countries around the world are gearing up for their Gay Pride celebrations, events and parades. The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-gendered) community has a lot to celebrate same-sex couples are able to marry in more countries around the world, gay athletes (especially males) are breaking down the stereotypes in the world of professional sports and each day, more people are letting go of their biased notions of what is to be gay. Saying this – there is still many people who are threatened by homosexuality. These people will do anything to block any rights for the LGBT community – they don’t want homosexuals to marry, they don’t want gays and lesbians to be protected against discrimination in the workplace, they don’t want their children exposed to LGBT youth, they oppose gays in the military to serve openly, they detest that young gay boys be allowed into the boy scouts – in fact, they don’t want gays and lesbians to live their authentic lives openly because of their own discomfort and prejudices. Most people have these prejudices because of their strict religious beliefs (which is a completely different topic in itself).
Many heterosexuals and homosexuals believe that the parade is about people exposing themselves to the world, a big drug and alcoholic sex orgy of people flaunting their sexuality. People have said such things about Gay Pride parades “we don’t have a straight pride, so why should they have gay pride”, “I don’t want my kids to see this kind of promiscuity”, “why should they have a sex parade?” and other comments of this nature. So – do we really need to have Gay Pride parades and celebrations around the world? ABSOLUTELY! Here is why:
1965, Everett Klippert acknowledges to police that he is gay, has had sex with men over a 24-year period, and is unlikely to change. In 1967, Klippert is sent to prison indefinitely as a “dangerous sex offender,” a sentence which was backed up by the Supreme Court of Canada that same year.
Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau amendments to the Criminal Code which, among other things, would relax the laws against homosexuality.
Trudeau’s amendments to the Criminal Code pass, decriminalizing homosexuality in Canada
homosexuality isn’t something that reared its head in the 20th century – gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgendered people have been with since the dawn of humanity.
The Stonewall riots (New York, 1969) transform the gay rights movement into a widespread protest for equal rights and acceptance. Patrons of a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn, fight back during a police raid on June 27, sparking three days of riots.
1971, Everett Klippert is released
1973, The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders.
1977, Quebec, Canada includes sexual orientation in its Human Rights Code, making it the first province in Canada to pass a gay civil rights law.
Harvey Milk is appointed to the Board of Permit Appeals by San Francisco Mayor George Moscone – he becomes first openly gay city commissioner in the United States.
January 8, 1978 – Harvey Milk is sworn in as member of the San Fransisco Board of Supervisors. He ran against 16 other candidates , he wins the election by 30% . Milk begins his term by sponsoring a civil rights bill that outlaws sexual orientation discrimination. Only one supervisor votes against it and Mayor Mascone signs it into law.
November 27, 1978, Harvey Milk and Mayor George Mascone are assassinated by Dan White, another San Fransisco city supervisor.
1978, Canada gets a new Immigration Act. Under the act, being a homosexual is removed from the list of inadmissible classes.
1979 – 75,000 people participated in the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Washington D.C., in October. It was the largest political gathering in support of LGBT rights to date.
1980 – The Democratic National Convention held at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Democrats took a stance supporting gay rights adding the following to their plank: “All groups must be protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, language, age, sex or sexual orientation.
1981, More than 300 men are arrested following police raids at four gay bath houses in Toronto, the largest mass arrest since the War Measures Act was invoked during the October Crisis. The next night, about 3,000 people march in downtown Toronto to protest the arrests. This is considered to be Canada’s Stonewall.
1982, Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
1984, The city of Berkeley, California becomes the first city to offer its employees domestic-partnership benefits.
1988, Sven Robinson, of the New Democratic Party, goes public about being gay, becoming the first Member of Parliament to do so.
Delwin Vriend, a lab instructor at King’s University College in Edmonton, Alberta, is fired from his job because he is gay. The Alberta Human Rights Commission refuses to investigate the case because discrimination based on sexual orientation isn’t covered by the Alberta Individual Rights Protection Act. Vriend takes the government of Alberta to court and, in 1994, the court rules that sexual orientation must be added to the act. The government wins on appeal in 1996 and the decision is overturned. In 1997, the case went to the Supreme Court of Canada and on April 2, 1998 the high court unanimously ruled that the exclusion of homosexuals from the province’s Individual Rights Protection Act violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Supreme Court said that effective immediately the act would be interpreted to include homosexuals even if the province doesn’t change it. The Alberta government chose to use the notwithstanding clause despite pressure from conservative and religious groups.
In 1992, The federal court lifts the country’s ban on homosexuals in the military, allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the armed forces.
1993, The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity.
1995, The Supreme Court of Canada rules on the case involving Jim Egan and Jack Nesbit, two gay men who sued Ottawa for the right to claim spousal pension under the Old Age Security Act. The Court ruled against Egan and Nesbit. However, all nine judges agreed that sexual orientation is a protected ground and that the protection extends to partnerships of lesbians and gay men.
1995, a Ontario (Canada) Court judge finds that the Child and Family Services Act of Ontario infringes section 15 of the Charter by not allowing same-sex couples to bring a joint application for adoption. He rules that four lesbians have the right to adopt their partner’s children. Ontario becomes the first province to make it legal for same-sex couples to adopt. British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia followed suit, also allowing adoption by same-sex couples.
1996, The Canadian federal government passes Bill C-33 which adds “sexual orientation” to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
1999, The Supreme Court of Canada rules same-sex couples should have the same benefits and obligations as opposite-sex common-law couples and equal access to benefits from social programs to which they contribute.
1999, Attorney General Jim Flaherty introduces Bill 5 in the Ontario (Canada) Legislature, an act to amend certain statutes because of a Supreme Court of Canada decision. Instead of changing the province’s definition of spouse, which the Supreme Court essentially struck down, the government creates a new same-sex category, changing the province’s Family Law Act to read “spouse or same-sex partner” wherever it had read only “spouse” before. Bill 5 also amends more than 60 other provincial laws, making the rights and responsibilities of same-sex couples mirror those of common-law couples.
2000, Vermont (USA) becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay and lesbian couples.
2004, Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts (USA)
2005, Canada becomes the 4th country to allow same-sex marriage (the first outside of Europe). Although same-sex marriage was legal in Ontario and British Columbia (2003), Quebec, Yukon, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador (2004) and New Brunswick (2005) – Civil Marriage Act, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and the Northwest Territory (2005).
2011, New York becomes the largest US State to allow same-sex couples to marry. The vote comes on the eve of the city’s annual Gay Pride Parade and gives new momentum to the national gay-rights movement.
I find it astounding how – like the civil rights movement – that this type of discrimination against a country’s people was even debated to ensure all were treated equally under the law. How is it that we needed to debate that people of color should be allowed into the same public space as white people – I find it outrageous and appalling that it took people so long to realize that this was wrong in every sense of the word. The gay rights movement is a movement to ensure that gays, lesbians, bisexual and trans-gendered people are treated equally and protected under the law. We are not perverts or sexual molesters. We are not any more promiscuous than those of the heterosexual preference. We don’t have a ‘gay agenda’ just like heterosexuals don’t have a ‘straight agenda’…..the hate, bias, prejudice and violence only begins when you add religion into the equation.
Pride Parades – may not have the same ‘grass-roots’ message as it did 40 years ago and has become a huge opportunity for corporations to advertise their products, despite this and the media focusing their reports on scantily clad men and women, the parade and the message the LGBT community is trying to convey is that we are just like you. I don’t hear people protesting the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans or Caribana in Ontario or Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, why? Is it because those events are celebrations that are inclusive to all (mainly heterosexuals)?
In a world where 76 countries ban gay sex and 7 have a death penalty (as of June 2010) – Why is it that people still feel so strongly against those who want to celebrate their diversity without any fear of violence or death? (In most countries). Uganda held its first Gay Pride Parade recently even though the country has made it clear that they have no tolerance for homosexuality (remember the KILL THE GAYS bill?). To me – this is the fundamental reasons for Gay Pride celebrations around the world. France – recently favoured same-sex marriage, yet crimes against the LGBT community have increased. Russia has insisted they will not tolerate gay propaganda and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has stated that he is opposed to same-sex marriage and will not be influenced by those countries who support it – this has also caused an increase in violence against LGBT people in Russia.
So again, I ask you, is there a need for Gay Pride Celebrations around the world. I believe so. History has shown that oppression was never the right route – because when you oppress people they will rise and in the long run, they will win!
Together, we can make the world a more positive one!
I don’t know how many times the LGBT community can say this: We are not trying to recruit your sons and daughters, we don’t have a ‘gay agenda’, we are not being elected to push our ‘gay policies’, we are not teaching in schools to promote the ‘gay agenda’, we don’t want to have equal protection under the law in order to fuck the lives of heterosexuals up, we don’t want to enrol our children into the boy scouts so that they can ‘change’ the other boys, we are not trying to convert your sons and daughters and we don’t want to marry so that we can ruin yours. What we want is to be treated like any other human being – THAT IS ALL!
When people such as Keith and Katherine Goode make stereotypical and ignorant comments about not wanting homosexuals in the Boy Scouts, what are they really afraid of? What can a gay scout possible suggest or do to instil such fear in people? In my 44 years – I have never heard of an institution/organization become less productive because they realized ‘gay people’ were part of that institution or organization.
The only advice I have for Keith and Katherine Goode is as follows: If you don’t like gays and don’t want to live in a world that is inclusive of all people, than you probably should create a commune and shut the rest of the world from your lives. Gay people exist. You may have come across many of us in your daily lives, at the supermarket, at your gym, at work, in the park, at school, in a restaurant and even at church and you probably never even knew. We exist and we no longer want to be pushed back into hiding – we want to live our lives just as you do, OUT and PROUD. Also – if you are worried that your boys may be exposed to gays in the scouts, than you may want to remove them and let them believe that your ignorance is what acceptance, love and compassion is all about.
For those of you that are not familiar with why I am writing this blog, please watch this video of what Keith and Katherine Goode believe will happen should homosexuals be open and honest about who they are in the Boy Scouts:
According to this family – Gays are not as committed in terms of defending the constitution as heterosexuals. We are not capable of being ‘morally straight’ – like so many heterosexuals are. Gays are not capable of being physically strong and couldn’t possibly hike for miles like heterosexuals can and we are not capable of being mentally awake to provide first-aid care to someone who may need it because we are gay. What??? Also – they are concerned with where ‘the gays’ will sleep on camping trips. Really?
I am sad that Keith and Katherine Goode feel this way and are perpetuating their ignorance onto their children, hopefully their children will understand that they don’t have to believe the ignorance and prejudices their parents believe. There is only hope.
Together, we can make the world a more positive one!
What makes an individual evolve to accept something they thought they never would understand? Is it because they were proactive in seeking the truth about what they did not understand? Is it because they decided to abolish the ideas and what they have been taught to believe was the truth? People are so easily influenced by many things and what they believe to be ‘the truth’ – Religion is one of the biggest factors in justifying ignorance or an excuse for people to hide behind what they fear or don’t understand. Despite all of the progress the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered) community has achieved, there is still those who seek to ‘demonize’ sexual orientation and deem it ‘un-natural’ and an ‘abomination’ according to the Bible. I find it fascinating how different religions are adamant about separating their beliefs with other religious denominations but seem to find unity in what they hate.
The main purpose of my blog and this website – C.O.P.E. (Coalition of Positive Energy), is to offer information to readers on what is happening in the world so that we can work together in creating positive outcomes. I try to focus on writing positive stories but I also want to inform readers that in order to achieve a positive outcome – we must face the negativity. Here are some stories I want to share with you so that we never forget to fight for love, compassion and understanding.
MATTHEW SHEPARD
On Saturday December 1, 2012 – it would have been Matthew Shepard’s 36th birthday. Matthew Shepard was driven to a rural area by Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were they robbed, pistol-whipped, and tortured him. Matthew was discovered 18 hours later by Aaron Kreifels still tied to a fence, alive and in a coma. Aaron Kreifels initially mistook Matthew for a scarecrow. Matthew suffered fractures to the back of his head and in front of his right ear. He experienced severe brain damage, which affected his body’s ability to regulate hear rate, body temperature, and other vital functions. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. Matthew was pronounced dead on October 12, 1998 at 12:53am in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was 21 years old.
His death was a hate-crime and spawned an activist movement that, more than a decade later, would result in passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law against bias crimes directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people.
At 21, I decided to let my friends and family know that I was gay. I understood the public perception of homosexuals and I did experience homophobia – I was called a “faggot” and even had a beer bottle thrown at me just because of my sexual orientation. I knew what my risks were for coming out as a gay man but I never really believed that death was one of those risks – not until I learned about the crime committed against Matthew Shepard.
Matthew’s story is a reminder that we all must stand together and speak out against bullying. We need to stop people from perpetuating hate in the name of religion. Imagine being the family of Matthew Shepard and having to deal with those who have a misconception of ‘the word of God’ at your son’s funeral. Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, took his message of “God Hates Fags” to protest at Matthew Shepard’s funeral wielding signs that read “No Tears For Queers” and “Fag Matt in Hell”.
If you would like to make a donation to the Matthew Shepard foundation – please visit the official Matthew Shepard foundation site founded by Matthews mother and father, Judy and Dennis at:
Uganda has been receiving much media scrutiny and attention since 2009 ever since their parliament has tabled a bill to ban homosexuality from their country. In April 2009, the Ugandan Parliament passed a resolution allowing Member of Parliament (MP) David Bahati to submit a private member’s bill in October to strengthen laws against homosexuality. The bill was proposed by Bahati and is based on the foundation of “strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family”, that “same-sex attraction is not innate and immutable characteristic”.
The legislation strengthens the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda by introducing the death penalty for people who are considered serial offenders, are suspected of “aggravated homosexuality” and are HIV-positive, or who engage in sexual acts with those under 18 years of age.
After facing intense international reaction and promises from Western nations to cut financial aid to Uganda, on 9 December 2009, Uganda’s Minister of Ethics and Integrity, James Nsaba Buturo said Uganda will revise the bill to drop the death penalty (substituting life imprisonment) for gay people with multiple offences.
Legislation like this perpetuates and incites violence towards gays and lesbians – the government is giving a clear message that citizens who have a sexual orientation other than heterosexual are not equal under their laws. If we do not voice our concerns – innocent people will die or be left to rot in prison because of how they were born.
Please contact your Member of Parliament and ask them to speak out against this bill. We must let the Uganda people know that their government is wrong to punish people because of how they were born. Contact your government and pressure them to cut financial aid to Uganda should this bill pass.
Homosexuals in Libya have reason to fear in the post-Gaddafi climate. Some people have said that it is even worse for gays and lesbians in Libya after Gaddafi. London’s The Times, ran a story in which gay Libyans told of how the capital city Tripoli’s largest militia, the Nawasi brigade, have been harassing and attacking them with impunity.
The Times is subscription-based, Pink News UK offers a summation of the situation:
The city’s largest and most powerful brigade officially work under the authority of the Ministry of Interior, and , according to witnesses, were taking people away just for being gay.
Ahmad said he was witness to recent events during which the Nawasi drove past a birthday party, saw a man dressed in a wig and dress, and beat him until he admitted he was gay, at which point he was taken away.
After the men were taken away, a picture of the detainees from the party appeared on the Nawasi brigade’s Facebook page (?????), in which they had their hands above their heads, and their heads against a wall, with their backs to the camera. Text accompanying the image read “flog them hard”, “ride them like camels” and “let’s see the bullets fly”.
The bridge admits to taking the men away, but says it did so more because of noise complaints and alcohol consumption.
“These guys are not straight, but that’s not the main reason we arrested them.” said one militia member. “The main thing was the big noise they were making to the neighbours, as well as the large amounts of alcohol and hashish we found.”
THE SALVATION ARMY – ANTI GAY?
The Salvation Army has a history of active discrimination against gays and lesbians. The church claims it holds “a positive view of human sexuality,” but then clarifies that “sexual intimacy is understood as a gift of God to be enjoyed within the context of heterosexual marriage.” they teach that “Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.”
Since 1986 the Salvation Army has engaged in five major assaults on the LGBT community’s civil rights and attempted to carve out exemptions that would allow them to deny gays and lesbians needed services as well as employment.
The Salvation Army collected signatures in an attempt to get legislation killed when New Zealand considered passing the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986. The act decriminalized consensual sex between gay men, the measure passed over the charity’s objections.
In the United Kingdom, the Salvation Army actively pushed passage of an amendment to the Local Government Act. The amendment stated that local authorities “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.” The law has since been repealed, but it led many schools and colleges to close LGBT student organizations out of fear they’d lose their government funding.
In 2001, the organization tried to extract a resolution from the White House that they could ignore local non-discrimination laws that protected LGBT people. While the commitment would have applied to all employees, the group claimed that it needed the resolution so it “did not have to ordain sexually active gay ministers and did not have to provide medical benefits to the same-sex partners of employees.” After lawmakers and civil rights activists revealed the Salvation Army’s active resistance to non-discrimination laws, the White House admitted the charity was seeking exemptions.
Also in 2001, the evangelical charity lobbied to change how the Bush administration would distribute over $24 billion in grants and tax deductions by urging the White House deny funding to any cities or states that included LGBT non-discrimination laws. Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary, issued a statement saying the administration was denying a “regulation sought by the church to protect the right of taxpayer-funded religious organizations to discriminate against homosexuals.”
In 2004, the Salvation Army threatened to close all their soup kitchens in New York City to protest the city’s decision to require all vendors and charities doing business with the city to adhere to all civil laws. The organization balked at having to treat gay employees equal to straight employees.
WESTWOOD HIGH – MESA, ARIZONA
Two students were faced with the prospect of either suspension from school, or sitting in chairs in the high school’s courtyard and holding hands for 15 minutes during a lunch period. They opted for the latter.
What message does this send? The message that intolerance is not okay. Making two boys hold hands in public as a form of punishment sends the message that it is not okay to be gay and that you will be humiliated if you are. It also sends a clear message to the other students that this form of punishment and bullying is acceptable.
MICHIGAN TEACHER SUSPENDED
Susan Johnson is a performing arts teacher at South Lyon’s Centennial Middle School. She indicated that one of her students asked if he could play a song in class. The song was called “Same Love”, performed by Seattle-based hip-hop artist Macklemore and was produced in support of marriage equality. Susan asked if the song was violent and if there was any profanity and the student said no. “I really love my kids and I never want to hurt them, but I also know that there’s a lot of bullying and there’s a lot of gay bashing and racial issues going on in our country and I want the kids to feel comfortable in my class no matter who they are.” stated Susan to WJBK.
MACKLEMORE’s VIDEO:
Today, we should be encouraging and supporting our governments, religious institutions, teachers and health care professionals to promote tolerance, compassion and love for all of society. We need to stop focusing on making the differences in people a negative thing – who cares what colour we are, what language we speak, what nationality we are or what religion you belong to. What does matter is how we treat one another.
Have we not witnessed enough violence in our lifetime? Why must we continue to debate things that are not under our control. You can’t ask someone to change their skin colour – it is absurd! You can’t ask a woman to change her gender if she was born a woman and you certainly can’t ask someone who was born gay to become heterosexual otherwise, it would be just as easy for heterosexuals to choose to be gay.
Together, we can make the world a more positive one!
COALITION OF POSITIVE ENERGY 