Gay and Lesbian Connection

Bill McCollum, Florida’s Attorney General and Republican Gubernatorial hopeful would like us to believe he is open-minded when it comes to the gay community.  But his actions prove otherwise—to at least 6000 Floridians.  After top members of his staff warned against it, McCollum paid George Rekers, a notorious anti-gay activist  $120,000 of Florida’s tax dollars to testify in favor of Florida’s ban on gay adoption as an “expert” witness. Rekers, if you remember got caught traveling with a male “escort” from Rentboy.com.  When McCollum was unable to find anyone willing to testify in favor of the ban, top members of his staff advised him not to use Reker, but he ignored them—too bad. Not only did the Court consider Reker’s testimony not credible, it was found to be “far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence.”

Thanks to Equality Florida, 6,000 Floridians sent messages to Bill McCollum telling him that he was wrong to use taxpayer dollars to uphold an archaic ban on gay adoption that doesn’t do anything to better the lives of Florida’s children.

Telling is good.  Showing is better.  Floridians can also show McCollum that his actions were wrong in the next election.   

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Thank you Google!  For providing equal rights to ALL your employees by equalizing the added tax gay people are required to pay in order to receive domestic partner health benefits. Under federal law, health benefits provided by employers for domestic partners are considered taxable income. It’s a tax that heterosexual married couples do not have to pay (heterosexuals have the option of avoiding the tax by getting married—gays do not have that option.)  The result of this unfair tax of domestic partner benefits is that gay employees must pay about $1069 more per year in taxes than married employees.  When a gay employee pointed out the disparity, Google looked at what they could do to put “same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits.”  So Google agreed to reimburse their gay employees to make up for the difference in the unfair tax.  

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There were about 150,000 GLBT people at Gay Days in Orlando, one of the largest gay-pride events in the world.   They came from all over the country, and the world to celebrate their pride in being who they are.   It was amazing to see such a diverse community of GLBT people, lots in red shirts, many with their families feeling free to be OUT in the world, in this case Disney World.

A friend of mine has a son who was working at Disney during Gay Days.  “Mom, they’re just regular people,” he said.  

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Coming out to oneself can be a confusing and difficult process with several hurdles to cross.  First, there’s making the discovery that you are gay.  Then, there’s coming to terms with your same-sex feelings.  Next, it’s wondering, am I the only one with such feelings? It’s challenging for sure.  Society may be more accepting of gay people than ever before, but there is still a stigma attached to same-sex attraction, and of course, the biggest obstacle for most people is the fear that their families won’t be accepting.   That happens, but people can change.  A favorite quote from Carol Lynn Pearson:  When dogma collides with reality, when the people involved are those you love, you see with different eyes. Even unaccepting parents can begin to see things differently with time.    

 If you are at the point in your process that you are ready to come out, there are lots of books that can help you and your parents.  Also, for support check out www.PFLAG.org to find a chapter near you.    

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If you’re thinking about coming out to your parents, and think your parents could use a little help here’s a suggestion.  Check out a free article for parents: 8 Things Parents Need to Know When Their Child Comes Out at www.restoftheway.com and click on Free Article.   Also the article could help if you’re already out and your parents are struggling.  

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 According to a new Gallop poll, the majority of Americans now support gay relationships.  We may still have a way to go, but we are certainly headed in the right direction.  And it appears we have finally reached the tipping point in gay acceptance.

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Here are two good quotes for the week:

This from Betty White, an American Treasure

As someone who’s been proudly advocating for equal rights and supporting GLBT causes for as long as I can remember, I know how much it means to young people struggling with their sexuality to see out and proud actors succeeding in their work without having to keep their sexuality a secret.

And this from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer

In the greatest of all democracies, it hurts my heart that in the year 2010, we would still treat some members of our society as 2^nd class citizens, and use them to score political points or gain votes or power.

Thanks to these powerful women for speaking out against homophobia.   

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The Rest of the Way: A Coming Out Story for Parents and Gay Children by Enid Jackowitz is now available at Malaprops Book Store and Cafe in Ashville, NC.  Hear Enid speak about her journey from rejection and homophobia to acceptance and advocacy at Malaprops on Monday, August 9, 2010 at 7 PM.

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According to the Miami New Times, George Rekers was hired by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum as an “expert” witness to defend Florida’s anti-gay adoption ban.  McCollum’s so called “expert” witness was recently caught with a male prostitute at the Miami airport.   

From Steve Rothaus’ Miami Herald Blog:  “Rekers and a colleague were paid $87,000 by McCollum for testimony that called gay people mentally unstable and advised that the ban should be expanded to include Native Americans because, Rekers claimed, they are also at much higher risk of mental illness and substance abuse…”

Is there any scientific support for such claims?  NO.  What a waste of tax payer’s money. 

This is  another link in the chain of prominent anti-gay activists being caught doing the very thing they deem immoral. Hypocrites, all. The harm these people do is not only contemptible, it’s downright Orwellian.

 

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This from Howard Dean at a DADT demonstration yesterday at the White House.

 …This is about what’s right, not only for America but what’s right for our military….we can’t afford to lose any talented people, and to kick talented people out of the military because they happen to be gay or lesbian makes no any sense at all. 

This isn’t a tough one…the American people know this is the right thing to do.  They want to have a strong military and they understand the stronger the military, the more people in the military that want to serve, the better military that we have. …The first guy who took a bullet in Iraq, a staff sergeant in the US army was a gay man.  If somebody is brave enough to take a bullet for the United States of America then they ought to have equal rights under the law…just like everybody else.  

This is really about not just equality for a community striving for equality, this is about what kind of a county we are, whether we’ll stand up for those who stand up for us, and about us having the strongest possible military.  This is a community that’s demonstrated their courage.  They’ve given their lives, and now it’s time to allow them to say who they are.  

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