Faggot, queer, dyke, homo, twinkie, a businessman hears this from a co-worker or a boy from his father or a student from his classmates or even a person from strangers in the streets for at least once every day. The purpose of these names is to remind them of what they are, or at least, what others have branded them; an abomination, a humiliation, a disappointment for the reason that they chose to be different.
Unacceptability is the kind of emotional impact that retains homosexuals from freely exercising their civil and human rights. Oftentimes, unacceptability reflects from family relations to social status when an individual decides to “come out”, therefore, leads the vast majority of young homosexuals to run away from home or worse, commit suicide.
On top of that, there’s also Alienation. It is one aspect that elaborates the fact that gay men would find little success in obtaining a normal, carefree lifestyle in a large community, when they choose to publicize their sexuality; hence, they are force to settle in small-populated districts where homosexuality is tolerated.
Another is Condemnation, an expression frequently utilized by religious organizations and churches who perceive homosexuality as a crime to God’s will owing to the belief that a person can only limit his/her freedom of attachment towards the opposite sex by reason that same sex relationship opposes child-bearing. And finally, what most homosexuals experience from the whole, degradation.
Degradation manifests in several forms; mistreatment through physical, verbal, emotional and spiritual assault from others; lack of support and protection from authority; rejection from obtaining or maintaining work; denial from a normal lifestyle etc. In conclusion, even as Gay Rights are regarded in parts of the globe, the world is yet to offer homosexuality the liberty it deserves.
Hey guys! I received some really good news last night and I thought it only right to write a quick post to share it with you guys. If you’ve followed the podcast & blog for a while, then you will know that Tom hasn’t been home to the U.S. for Christmas in about 9 years. This year , thanks in no small part to my new job, I decided to make my way back home to Alabama for the holidays. I also really wanted my partner to join me on the trip to finally visit my home, and also to take the scary step of meeting the in-laws.
Soooo, last month we started the process of trying to get him a tourist visa to visit the U.S. and it was quite an arduous task. There was a mountain of paperwork needed for him to even apply. Then, with the knowledge that he might not even get it, we prepared all the necessary documents from here and at home thanks to the support of my family. He went to the U.S. embassy last week for his visa interview and fortunately for us, it went really smoothly. It is often difficult for Thai citizens to get American visas due to a variety of reasons and we were more than a little nervous. However, I’m proud to report that he received his passport back in the mail yesterday with a 10 year multiple entry tourist visa to the America. I did a little happy dance when I got the news, and now i’m really excited to make the journey home with my partner at my side come December.
I’ll be having a quite weekend here in the Thai countryside, so you can definitely count on a podcast in the next couple of days. I’m planning to revisit something I talked about in the first or second episode as they don’t seem to be available for download anymore. A few of you have requested the background of my journey that led me to live in Thailand, so I’ll take some time in the next podcast and talk about the how and the why that brought me to live here. Sooooo, till the weekend much luv from very wet southern coast of Thailand!
The holidays are fast approaching and the Blac Gurlz Ink line of greeting cards is expanding just as fast! We know that the holidays can present a unique opportunity for same-sex loving members and their allies to exchange holiday greeting cards that reflect and express their sentiments.
So we decided to help out a bit!
Introducing the Blac Gurlz Ink’s “Couture” line of quality greeting cards!
We are introducing the line during the holiday season so that not another day goes by where you’re wondering…”isn’t there something more…something more representative of my community?” Well, now there is!
And the beauty of the Couture line is that you can place a “custom” order!
These limited edition and signed greeting cards are lovingly handcrafted from the finest materials we have found thus far and can we just add that anyone giving or receiving one of our Couture cards will know that they are SPECIAL to someone!
Once the holiday season has passed they will make wonderful keepsakes AND we didnt just create cards for the Holidays!
Please go to our website to view our complete line: http://www.blacgurlzink.com/
Holiday Special!
From now until Dec. 20, 2009, when you purchase 4 premium greeting cards or 2 handcrafted couture greeting cards, we will send you a FREE card as our way of saying thank you!
Below are some ideas taken from Gallery Collection of great ways to enhance your greeting cards to fit your home decorating motif.
Lesbian Christmas Couture Greeting Card
Greeting Card Crafts
(excerpt taken from www.gallerycollection.com. All photos are of Blac Gurlz Ink Couture greeting cards)
Puzzles
Choose a theme, such “Winter Wonderland” or “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Cut out the pictures and arrange them on a piece of cardboard (a cereal box is ideal)Glue (Modge Podge works well for this craft) the pictures to the cardboard and then brush Modge Podge on the top of the pictures for a strong glossy finish. After it dries, cut in puzzle size pieces with an Xacto knife.
Christmas Gift Tags
This is so easy. Cut the front of an old Christmas card or just the picture from any greeting card. Punch a hole and place ribbon through it.
Gay Christmas Couture Greeting Card
Wall Plaques
Your local craft store sells wooden plaques in all different shapes and sizes. Paint or stain the wood. After it dries, use Modge Podge to glue the picture to the plaque. Put another coat of Modge Podge over the picture for a glossy finish. This can be great in place of a holiday card or Christmas card.
Place Mats
Glue your pictures to cardboard. (You may want to paint the bottom of the cardboard first.) Laminate or use clear Con-tac paper.
Framed Art
Your favorites designs can be framed and hung on the wall. Or artfully arrange a few personalized greeting cards in one frame.
last night was fun… gratifying in some ways, but still not fully gratifying the way I crave…
Now this morning I have been walking around kinda feeling bad about things we did, like regretful in a way. I know we are married and sex is ok between us, but I am pretty sure what we were doing does not count as ok in the eyes of God.
He told me this morning that he had a bunch of bad dreams last night… which usually means dirty sex dreams or dreams in which I leave him or am with other women instead of him. He teared up a bit when he told me, but he didnt go into detail about them yet.
Usually when i get really pulled into my lesbian thoughts, he starts sensing it spiritually or something. And when he does, he confronts me on it or digs around trying to see if his feelings are valid. So we will see if he starts questioning soon. Since I have been pretty high on the thoughts recently.
Today I am a little disturbed by our actions and my inability to control myself and be happy where I am with what and who I have and stop craving something else. I love my husband and things need to be good and “normal” and healthy. I am not thinking about women at all today.
Bakersfield LGBTQ proudly presents the 6th Annual Pride Festival, featuring Three Chord Whore, Ask Alice & the Fantasy Girls, as well as other live entertainment, amazing Emcee Billie Joe Fox, bigger & better Kidzone, LOTS of vendors, food & beverages and a fantastic day all around! Portions of the show will be ASL interpeted. We have several drawings for prizes. Grab your family & friends and join us to connect to your community!
Tickets will be $10 at the door, and $7 in advance, available September 30. (We’ll make announcements so you can’t miss them!) Cash only, no checks or credit/debit cards.
This event is sponsored by Bakersfield LGBTQ, ID Lube and the 2010 US Census.
There is no ATM onsite for this event. Make sure you bring cash with you for the vendors and food!
This venue is accessible by the disabled; the grounds are primarily short-cut grass. Restrooms are accesible.
For regular Pride updates, please join our facebook: www.facebook.com/bakolbgtq This site will also be updated as the event grows nearer!
PARKING: Please plan to park around the back of the park, using the entrance just south of the Bakersfield Blaze sign. There will be no gates open on the Chester Avenue side of the event.
This is a once-a-year extravaganza so make your plan now to attend! See you there!
H/T to Susan G. in Nebraska who said this article from the Baltimore Sun would make me happy:
In a move that religious scholars say is unprecedented, 10 of the 12 nuns at an Episcopal convent in Catonsville left their church Thursday to become Roman Catholics, the latest defectors from a denomination divided over the ordination of gay men and women.
………
The sisters said they converted for the orthodoxy, unity and leadership they said they could no longer find in their own faith.
“We know our beliefs and where we are,” said Mother Christina Christie, superior of the order that came to Baltimore in 1872. “We were drifting farther apart from the more liberal road the Episcopal Church is traveling. We are now more at home in the Roman Catholic Church.”
Also joining the church was the Rev. Warren Tanghe, the sisters’ chaplain. In a statement, Episcopal Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton wished them God’s blessings.
“Despite the sadness we feel in having to say farewell, our mutual joy is that we remain as one spiritual family of faith, one body in Christ,” he said.
If gay people represent 1 out of every 10 people in the population, then it stands to reason that we can make a huge impact in our world’s climate. Human rights campaigners in London have stressed this week the importance of the gay community to help fight climate change. Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Activist and Campaginer in London told reporters: “There is not much point campaigning for LGBT human rights unless we have a habitable planet on which to enjoy these rights. If global warming results in climate destruction and economic downturn, our quality of queer life will be seriously diminished. In the worst case scenario, human survival might be threatened.”
So if climate change has such a huge impact what can we do about it? Tatchell has decided to start a campaign in his home country to combat climate change by starting the 10:10 initiative. In a nutshell, he wants London’s gay population to cut its carbon footprint by 10% – Following the theory that if we are 1 out of every 10 people in the world, then lets cut our consumption by 10%. It is definitely an achievable goal and one that all gay people can get behind.
Tatchell told reporters when he launched this program …”Cutting our personal carbon footprint by 10% by the
example of climate flood in London
end of 2010 is a realistic, achievable target that will make an impact. It isn’t hugely difficult. I found it a fun challenge and quite easy. It has reduced my energy bills and saved me money. Walking, cycling and not eating meat has also made me fitter and healthier. We don’t have to wait for the government and business to give us a lead. We can take the initiative ourselves by eliminating energy wastage in our homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods. By our personal example, we can pressure government and business to do the same….” An example of climate flooding in LondonJust because this is a London inititiave doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to do this in our own home towns and cities.
What can you do to help reduce climate change:
1) Change 10. That’s right – Change a light, and you help change the world. Replace the conventional bulbs in your 10 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the ENERGY STAR label and you will help the environment while saving money on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 20 million cars.
2) If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials.
3) Check your tire pressure regularly. Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy by up to 3 percent, and leads to increased emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. If you don’t know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the glove compartment or on the driver’s-side door pillar.
4) Use public transportation, carpool or walk or bike whenever possible to avoid using your car. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. Whenever possible, combine activities and errands into one trip.
5) Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the amount used means big savings in not only your energy bills, but also in carbon dioxide emissions. Using cold water for your wash saves 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, and using a low-flow shower head reduces 350 pounds of carbon dioxide. Make the most of your hot water by insulating your tank and keeping the temperature at or below 120°.
This by means isn’t everythign you can do but its a start. If the gay community can get behind this and take the lead, we can defintely do our part. Way to go Mr. Peter Tatchell for starting this in London, what a great idea for all of us to follow.
Thomas (Official Content Producer – Click Click Expose)
