Ignore me....I'm gay...and do what the RW wants.

[LeftHander]

That is it....

I am fortunate to of "come out" later in life...at 43.

Not to bore you with the details, which I won't. I can say that I know that people who once would stand side by side with me, who once would laugh and joke and converse...they no longer do. Simply because of who I love. A fact that is that is really none of anyone's business but my own, my lover, and my family.

So DU'ers....I challenge you NOW...say hi and keep this kicked. And say...NO I WILL NOT let my GAY friends and neighbors slip into the clutches of the RIGHT WING. A group that wants nothing more than to simply USE ME and people like me as political footballs with one goal of pitting all of us against religious conservatives. Religious Conservatives live on every block in America, so do qay people. ONe minority cannot hold sway over another in a democracy.

Remember WE ARE A MINORITY...and this fall we are being SINGLED OUT to do nothing more than bring the right wing wacko vote out. Even if they are super pissed off at W...they will come out and vote republican to simply vote to relegate me and other gay people as something less than human. So don't let follow them...stand with us.

90 days are left and on the ballots on several states are measures to isolate gays and marginalize us in society. To render us "non-citizens" not worthy of the same rights as any christian/muslim/jewish fundie heterosexual couple.

That is wrong.

So KICK THIS. And KEEP IT KICKED.

Not for me. But for every gay person in America. Every young person who is struggling with identity. Send our young people a clear message that it is OK. It is OK to be who you are. Don't let them let 35 years go by and suffer the pain of living a lie.

We live in a world of violence and division. Some things we can actually change. We CAN'T change what is happening in Iraq...we can't change what is happening in Israel and Lebanon. We can change what is happening here, with our vote this fall.

SEND THE GOP PACKING and turn the fundies back and in those states with gay marriage amendments on the ballot this fall vote to allow gay people the same rights as everyone else.

And tell your centrist christian friends and republicans who are mad at W to support us and not let RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM dictate who gets what rights in AMERICA!!

Peace, love and happiness....

LH

[Oceansaway]

1. TOUCHE !!..n/t

[Redstone]

2. Well, I'd help you out, but you're left-handed, so I can't.

Redstone

[LeftHander]

5. LOL...nt!!

[Redstone]

11. Well, you know, if YOU PEOPLE are allowed to MARRY and ADOPT

KIDS, you, you know, you might turn them into...I have to use the BLUNT word here...SOUTHPAWS!

OMIGOD! Run for the hills, all decent people!

Redstone

[MarkDevin]

3. I've stood with the GLBT community for 25 years now.

And I'll continue to do so!

[Olney Blue]

6. Kick from a fellow lefty!

[proud patriot]

4. K and R

:patriot:

[Tsiyu]

7. K & R

There are far too many Democrats who are desperate to appeal to the Backwash as if that will help us win.

You know what? Most of these assholes are only trying to keep their own comfort level up.

Rather than educating themselves so that they can discuss the reality of gays and lesbians in our society, they want to have it nice and easy so they don't have to incur the wrath of their fundie relatives and neighbors.

They are saying the exact same things which were said of the Civil Rights Movement.

To them, Democrats can't really fight for anything. I say, join the Repuke party if you can't fight for everyone.

Pure selfishness motivates the traitorous Dems among us, and they sicken me.

[Mandate My Ass]

8. This straight chick changed her avatar

to stand with you and I will now and always.

Hang together or hang separately. I say "hang together" just as I say to all my brethren whether they be darker skinned or a different religion or a different ethnic group or anybody demonized by the xtian haters. :grouphug:

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I've always been on your side and I will NOT change now.

I was with you then, pal, and I'm with you now. I'll be with you in November and many Novembers after that.

I'll joke wiht you. I'll talk with you. I'll see a ballgame with you or just hang out. Hell, I'll even go to a bar with you. You pick the place.

And I'll be more than proud to be a guest at your wedding.

[malaise]

10. Hi Leftie

It's your life. Only you can live it your way.:D

[babylonsister]

12. You've got my support and love, LeftHander!

I'm straight but not narrow-minded. :hug:

[TwentyFive]

13. Piss on those people who no longer stand by you. They're not your friends

Congratulations! Now you're free to meet people who will stand by you and laugh & joke - but this time, it will be for who really you are.

I'm reading a book called The Velvet Rage (Overcoming the pain of growing up Gay in a straight man's world), by Alan Downs, PhD...a gay psychologist. I HIGHLY recommend this book to all my gay friends.

[HockeyMom]

14. ALL Gays have Straight Parents

Your acceptance starts with us, your parents. Yes, I say "us" because I am the mother of a lesbian daughter. She came out to us at 21 because she was afraid to tell us. You know what? We already knew, for years. We just never said anything. In our case, do you know why? Because it didn't matter at all to us. You are who you are and we love you for the unique individual you are; just as we love your straight sister for the unique individual she is.

In the grand scheme of life, who the person is you fall in love with is inconsequential. It is the love, joy, and happiness they bring to you that matters to us, your parents.

You are correct, you have to be who you are. You cannot live a lie; to yourself or to anyone else.

[bigscott]

46. just because

a man has sex with a woman (and creates a new life) it does not make him straight. My son has a gay father - biologically and in all other ways.

thanks

[idgiehkt]

82. amen to that.

parents of gays have viable sperm and egg. That is all.

[LWolf]

15. Ok! n/t

[rubberducky]

16. Great post!!

I have always supported gays and lesbians, simply because that is so much NOT my business. I have kinda wondered why you don`t start your own church. I mean if scientology can be considered a "religion", why not a gay and lesbian church?? You could call it something like "All God`s Children". Think you would have a lot of support! Wouldn`t that frost the fundies?? You could even get married in church!!

[salinen]

17. I don't know

the idea of gays and republicans at war in every neighborhood is somewhat appealing. But I wouldn't want any gay people hurt.

[countmyvote4real]

18. K&R n/t

[existentialist]

19. A scary survey for the GOP

I posted this at greater length in the general discussion politics forum, but this particular paragraph seems significant here in response to your post. You have more supporters than you know


http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/07/28/dems_20... /



A scary survey for the GOP

A bipartisan NPR survey shows a nation that rejects "moral values" pandering -- and is very angry at Bush.

By Joe Conason

. . .

People reject the "moral values" demagoguery. Most voters in the contested districts say that they trust Democrats, not Republicans, on such issues as stem cell research, flag burning and gay rights. Those responses indicate that the summer strategy of setting up phony floor votes on right-wing constitutional amendments -- and the president's first veto -- may have backfired. Fifty-two percent say that the recent stem cell debate made them more inclined to vote for Democrats, and 49 percent said the same about flag burning, gay marriage and other "values issues." Only 29 percent -- essentially the conservative base -- said those debates would motivate them to vote for Republicans.

[Strathos]

20. K and R from family

I've felt so down lately because of being used as something to vote against that it's really hard to feel good about being American. I do push on though and I speak of my homosexuality every chance I get and I don't allow negative shit around me at all.

Why can't we just get someone powerful enough to fight for us?

[Janice325]

21. K&R!!!

:hi: :hug: from a right handed southpaw.

[Solly Mack]

22. Hiya!

:hi:

[MuseRider]

23. Hi Lefthander!

Great post!

With you all the way and working to turn things around in my state. So far so good there.

Hang in there, you have lots of allies. :hug:

[we can do it]

24. We Are Not Free Till All Are Equal

Here's a hug for you, too.

:grouphug:

[marmar]

25. Challenge accepted...

As a member of another minority group (African American), I know that my rights are diminished if yours are.

[johnaries]

26. GOOD FOR YOU! This reminds me of a "turning point" in my life.

I am a Hetero, so I never really could understand homosexuality. I also grew up with a very homophobic environment. I will also admit that there were times during adolescenence when I would become stimulated in the presence of a male and wonder "OMG, am I turning Gay?" Of course, in retrospect I realize that I was a hormonal teenager and I would get sexually excited if the wind blew in the right direction. However, on a primitive sexual level overall, I viewed other males as "the competition".

I worked in several service industries with many Homosexuals. Some of them open and obvious, some of them not so obvious - unless you asked them. Funny, the more you interact with people on a daily basis that you think are the complete opposite of you, the more things you find that you have in common. That's also true of Racial Discrimination, but I'll save that argument for a "racial quotas" thread.

ANYWAY, working with Homosexuals (or, "gays" if you prefer. They're still the same individuals no matter what you call them) closely for several years and also considering myself fairly open-minded, I became very close to several of my gay co-workers. But, I just couldn't understand why anyone would be "gay". It seemed like a lot of fun - the lifestyle (as I perceived it) was actually very attractive. But not all Gays that I worked with fit into the "lifestyle" as I saw it.

One day, curiosity got the better of me, and I asked Kevin - who I considered and a close friend as well as a mentor; he was one of those extremely intelligent and talented people that you know could do anything and do it well, as well as having the "People" and Communication skills that are so invaluable to success in any endeavor...

I asked him one day, in a casual, off the cuff manner, "Kevin, why did you choose to be gay?"

For a brief second, I saw a reaction of...I don't know, I can't describe it. It was so quick, I don't think he even realized I saw it.

He said "John, when I came out, my father kicked me out of his house, my mother wouldn't talk to me, all of my relatives disowned me, I lost every friend I ever knew, and the church I grew up in wouldn't let me in it's doors. If I had a 'CHOICE', I NEVER would have chosen that."

Well, his words hit me between the eyes like a ton of bricks. I would love to say that "the scales fell from my eyes" and I immediately "saw the light". But, this revelation was so contrary to everything I believed about human sexuality that, to be honest, I have no idea how long it took me to "digest" it and truly realize that - to put it simply - Gays are the way God made them. Just like "Straights".

We are who we are. We can all strive to be the best "me" that we can be, but we cannot be something that we are not.

So, be patient with those who love you but don't "understand". It may take them a while to re-evaluate some beliefs they have held all their lives. Some of them may not be capable of it at all. But that should never stop you from being who you are, and being PROUD of who you are.

I applaud you! It always takes a lot of guts to declare that you are who you are despite what others may want you to be!
:applause:

[LeftHander]

27. Thanks for sharing that story....

It really goes a long way for me personally. I know there are lots of kind and wonderful people out there...and I see them everyday. Many times we get so lost in all that is bad we forget to see the beauty of humanity and celebrate it...

Despite the times we live in what will go a long way is to shed the fear and embrace peace and love for one another and let reason stand true.

we need to tell all those diseffected people that it is okay and now is the time to let go the fear and stand with your fellow Americans...particularly the gay ones like me and the poor, and the people of color from all nations of the world that make up our communities...

[johnaries]

32. I think the hardest thing for ANY of us is to "accept who we are".

So many sad personal stories begin with "my father wanted me to be..." or "my mother wanted me to be..." and then it just gets worse from there.

My whole life did a major turnaround when I learned to accept myself and LOVE myself. Sure, there are things I want to improve. That's what "growth" is all about. But I can't grow until I know who I am. Who I am will be the roots of Who I become. If you destroy those roots, you have no foundation upon which to grow.

It's really so simple now; but, of course, I was blinded to the simplicity before.

So many people try to "justify", rather than "understand". Well, obviously, justification requires less effort than understanding. This applies to so many aspects of modern prejudice - homophobia is just one example of many.

EDIT TO ADD: You will probably now face the greatest challenges you have ever faced in your life. The good news is that you will also find the STRENGTH within yourself - your TRUE self - to face those challenges. At the end of the day, I predict you will be quite proud of yourself. I also predict that many of the challenges you face will not be nearly as bad or as difficult as you thought.

[swwallace81]

55. I played in a golf tournament in Macon, Ga. and the fundies

I was with were adamant that its a choice. They think everyone is born strait and only those few "choose" to be gay. They had one example of someone they knew who confessed to choosing. I had no real comeback and have been looking for one since. Little help?

[meatloaf]

66. I've always found it useful to ask such people exactly when it was they

chose to be straight?

I've yet to get a coherent answer.

[LeftHander]

76. I think you always can choose to ACT straight....

But you really aren't straight. You can't deny attraction forever. It builds up and manifests itself in all sorts of weird ways both in terms of odd behavior and strange physical maladies.

I used to run everything through the "Does that make me look gay?" filter. Everything I did went through this filter. How I dressed, how I sat, how I talked...it got to be so that I instantly knew how I was supposed to behave. Unfortunately that led to all sort of other issues including hyper-tension, high blood pressure, depression, anger, mood swings, even skin rashes. I had two choices...continue as a liar, and see a marriage fail miserably and probably become sicker or stop and become a whole, honest person.

So I chose to stop.

I got rid of the "Does that make me look gay?" filter and faced up to my own homophobia and came out 18 months ago. (was 42 actually then) Now it is all gone. And so are the physical health problems and so far the low grade depression and stress. However there are still people close to me who are injured because of my inability to recognize myself. Particularly my wife of 17 years and 16 year old daughter. The mourning and healing is ongoing for all of us.

So here I am going into the story...I think it is so important to tell this story in the context of this fall's election. When we can recognize that homosexuality is always going to be with humanity and if we take steps to stop demonizing and accept it as part of the continuous web of existence, then people will stop hurting themselves and others by our culturally induced homophobia.

Though I can't regret my life I can say that the next generation should be able to be free to find happiness on a easier path than I took. One that isn't laced with fear, humiliation, secrets and violence as I had growing up in South Dakota.

Well anyway...people always can choose to appear to be someone they aren't but I don't think you can choose who you are or where your attraction lies. That is simply life.

Live it or fake it. I hope my story and my wife's story will be an example of how important it is to end our cultural bias and discrimination toward gay people. It is unhealthy for everyone and for the progress of this nation.

[tbyg52]

84. Exactly!

We need, IMHO, to challenge the phrase "sexual *preference*" whenever it is used--I don't *prefer* to be heterosexual, I *am* heterosexual. I have no idea why. Neither does anybody else, I'd venture. The correct phrase, again IMHO, is "sexual *orientation*."

BTW, K&R--I hope the Democrats are the party that doesn't throw *anyone* to the wolves.

[yardwork]

28. Thanks!

I came out at 45 - so thanks for this thread and high-five from one late bloomer to another!

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Don't worry. Some want to toss us atheists and pro-choicers off the bus,

too. In the name of "electoral expediency" or "Courting the values voters".

Fuck that. GLBT rights, Marriage rights are HUMAN rights. CIVIL rights.

I stand with you, friend.

[kdpeters]

30. Congratulations!! You're gay!!

That's how Ellen Degeneres once suggested we greet coming-out. It's a wondrous occasion and the beginning of a very exciting time of your life worthy of a gala celebration. It's a milestone that can't be reached without self-acceptance, integrity, and courage. I'd bake you a cake if I knew where to send it.

They say if you love something, set it free and if it doesn't come back, it was never really yours to begin with. The people who hurt you now, set them free. Understand they, too, have been damaged in a way by the lies and hate of the religious right. If it took you 43 years to come to terms with it, you must allow some time for those who make the effort to adjust at their own pace. There's nothing you can do to speed it up, but there's plenty of traps to interrupt or block it. If they don't come back, then they were never really ready to accept you but on their terms. I promise you, however, some of the most unexpected people will come full circle and you will have made an impact far greater than any amount of political activity you can ever accomplish in the rest of your life.

For tonight, I drink a toast in your honor....make it three.

Salud!
Dinero!
Amor!

The greatest of these is love.

[Not Me]

31. I am standing right beside you

K&R

[ms liberty]

33. Hi Lefthander...K&R n/t

[lonestarnot]

34. Hi

:hi:

[bear425]

35. You got my vote...

After 26 years with my partner, I will not sit idly by and allow the importance of our relationship be used for hateful political gain.

:yourock:

edit: p.s. We're both left handed. :)

[ninkasi]

36. He was a confused teen-ager then

over 20 years ago, but he will be 40 soon. He was a friend of my daughters, and she knocked on my bedroom door one summer night, urging me to have a talk with him, because he was almost suicidal. I had to go to work the next day, but was so fond of him, that I put on a robe, and he and I had a talk outside on my patio.

He had come to the realization that he was gay. His dad was dead, his mother was an alcoholic, and the time he spent at our house, with my son and daughter and me, represented the only stability he had. He broke down and cried, and wanted to know if I thought he was evil, and would go to hell. I told him, in all honesty, that what he was feeling was natural and right for him. I told him he was born to love a member of his own sex, as I was born to love someone of the opposite sex.

I told him that loving is always better than hating, and that it would make no sense for him to be born with a sexual orientation that was wrong. It was not a choice. I cautioned him, as I had my daughter, about getting involved with someone who might take advantage of him, I warned him about being promiscuous, and about love being the foundation to a lasting relationship. This was probably in 1983, more or less.

He is still like a member of our family. We are in touch on a regular basis. He and his partner of many years are a stable, loving couple, and have adopted a child. The gay lifestyle that homophobes screech about? Their issues are about whether to remodel the kitchen, or purchase a small boat. Their son is thriving, happy, healthy, and well-adjusted.

Not only will I stand in solidarity with him, but I'll kick the ass of anyone who hurts him. He is a special, wonderful, loving person, and his partner is the same. Over the years, when my daughter was going through difficult times, he was always there for her. Now, let me tell you the ironic thing...his mother took her own life when he was 19. His older brother has been in and out of prison on drug charges. His younger brother spent years in and out of jail and rehab, and took his life about 3 years ago.

Out of the family, he, the gay member, the one some condemn, leads a life as a productive, tax paying citizen, a stable member of a loving union, and the father of a child who had been abandoned. I dare some fundie to tell me how wicked he is, or how wrong, or how evil his life is. If this man, who is like a son to me, is bad, then I guess I'll have to place myself in the same place. If being the kind, thoughtful, loving person he is is wrong, then the whole world is wrong.

[fudge stripe cookays]

56. And you, my friend, are one of the good ones!

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it. And oh that more people were like you.

:hi:

[bear425]

65. This should be its own post. Thank you for sharing this with us. n/t

[blossomstar]

106. Amen! Thank you for this post...

I have a gay friend and neighbor that I feel the same way about. He has been in a stable relationship for over 50 years! It is so beautiful to see two people who care so deeply for each other. The both of them have contributed more to society than 1000 rightwing nuts! How dare people judge others. I'd rip anyone apart that would hurt them, they are the kindest, most caring people I have ever met! It's so hard to understand how people can be so concerned with others sexual orientation... are their lives that boring? There are so many REAL problems that need our concern. It really is quite perplexing... Thanks again for this post.

[PurpleChez]

37. Hi, LeftHander!!!

Come visit Athens (GA) sometime! It's an island of lefties and liberals in an ocean of red (red necks, red state, etc.). My family and I stand with you.

[ornotna]

38. Hi Bradly .

Pleased to meet you.

[KT2000]

39. Hi LeftHander

Have always stood with Gay/Lesbian friends.
Your message is an important one for the political season. I really think peopple are tiring of the so-called social issues the RW trots out to bring out their base.
Democratic politicians need to say that they will not allow people to be misued in this way. Period.

[MikeH]

40. Hi LeftHander, I have one of my own desires for something outside the norm

First of all, as far as the RW is concerned, I ended a long time friendship last year after my friend voted for * a second time, in 2004. My friend was always a fundamentalist Christian, but I never thought of him as having fit the worst stereotypes of people of that persuasion.

I know that my friend is strongly against abortion, and that he also felt that our actions in Iraq were the right thing for us to do (which especially bothered me). I don't know how my friend feels about gay issues, or how important gay issues are to him, but I did let him know that I was very bothered by the obsession some people have with the idea that it is wrong or disgusting for two people, who happen to be of the same sex, to love each other and want to get married and enjoy the same rights and privileges that other people enjoy.

I let my friend know that while I never thought of him as being intolerant or bigoted, I was very bothered that he supported the presidential candidate who was supported by people in the religious right who are these things.

I reminded my friend that while I myself am not gay, I was reminded of Martin Niemoller's well known reflections: "First they came for the Jews, etc."

I don't regret ending my friendship with my friend; we mutually agreed to do so, and we did so on amicable terms.


I used to be a Christian when I was younger, and went along, somewhat uncritically, at least for a while, with the idea that there was something wrong or "unnatural" about homosexual attraction. Over a period of time I came to learn that that was not the case. I remember one time at a church singles group meeting a former pastor of the church (a theologically liberal church, as churches go) came to speak about homosexuality, and one thing he said that really struck me was that a person does not choose to be attracted to somebody sexually; people find that they like or are attracted to somebody, and some people find that they are attracted to people of the same sex.

For other reasons (not having to do with sexual issues), I am no longer a Christian.


While my attractions, as a man, have always been to girls and women, I have always liked and fantasized about women with body hair, particularly hairy legs.

I remember liking the idea of women having body hair starting when I was an adolescent, and in early high school I remember a couple of girls who had hairy legs for a short time; later they shaved their legs like other girls did.

I saw at least a fair number of women with hairy legs and other body hair while in college in the early to mid 1970's.

It was one of my disappointments that body hair on women never became accepted and widespread in society like long hair on men did (at least in the 1970's). In fact since then and especially recently the trend has been for women to religiously remove just about all body hair, including on the arms (where it was accepted in the 1970's) and the pubic region. It seems just about everything else has become accepted in our society at some time since the 1960's except for natural body hair on women.

So I, for one, am a man who likes female body hair, and would like it very much if women were to feel OK about letting their natural body hair grow out, and not regard it as something to be ashamed of.

I realize that lots of women prefer to remove their body hair, and lots of men prefer women with their body hair removed, and such preference is perfectly OK.

However there are people who regard hairy legs or underarms, or other body hair on women, to be gross and disgusting and wrong, and who regard people who like such as being sickos. That attitude is no different than the attitude which regards being attracted to someone of the same sex as wrong or unnatural or disgusting.

[xchrom]

41. k&r

[Monk06]

42. Just as a side note LeftHander you are one handsome man. Just sayin'

[BlueIris]

43. Well, this is a fun post to kick.

:-)

[2QT2BSTR8]

44. WOW! One the best pieces I have seen from our community in a while!

Thank you! K&R!

[Totally Committed]

45. I stand with you!

I always have and I always will.

Peace, love and happiness.... right back atcha!

TC

[phillinweird247]

47. Gay/Straight Solidarity! nt

[wellstone dem]

48. kicking in honor of my

lefthanded questioning teenaged daughter.

[Triana]

49. Kickety-kick!

Hi LH...

I can't stand religious extremeists of any stripe - Xtian, Islamist - none of 'em. So here's a KICK for them - and for you.

:hug:

[mtnester]

50. My son is gay, & like a mother cub, I will defend him with my last breath

as I would all of his friends, all of my friends who are gay, and those who I have not yet met who are gay.

AND, I will stand for those who have not yet come out, including my own family members who I am waiting on...you will be happier and safer with those you love if you would just deal...we love you and will protect you if need be.

I cried the day my own state decided my son was a non-entity. I rejoiced with a US couple who will be saying their vows in London at the end of this month. I wish they could live here and have the same happiness and acceptance.

Now, excuse me while I alternately bang my head on a wall in rage/frustration and sob with sadness.

[mikeytherat]

51. Kick for love and happiness

Kick!

mikey_the_rat

[joneschick]

52. Hey neighbor!

working the phone banks to assure the outcome here in Wisconsin. PM me if you're interested in an open and affirming Christian church in your backyard.......:hug:

[LeftHander]

54. Thanks for the thoughts...I'm a UU

Unitarian Universalist...

I go to a church in Brookfield...

[joneschick]

94. I have a number of friends there

when you see the minivan with the DU bumperstick and this one


:hug:

wave! that's joneschick

[lectrobyte]

53. Hello!

[Borchkins]

60. Joining the discussion

I've been lurking at DU for a long time. But I need to join this thread. I went door to door for Fair Wisconsin on Sunday (hottest darn day of the year!) to oppose a ban on gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships.

I walked and knocked for my brother, several cousins, lots of friends and maybe for my sons. My boys are 2 and 4 and I planned to take them with me, but it was too darn hot. I want my neighbors to see that the face of gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships is a married, straight mother of two.


Now, I'll go back to lurking.

B

[Time for change]

57. I believe that all DUers support you on this LeftHander

:hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

58. I stand with you too.

I was raised in a very racist, homophobic household. My mother called blacks the "N" word, and told me she wished all the gays "would just go back in the closet where they belong."

It's a good thing I picked wacky old Denton, Texas to go to school and became an art major. Opened my eyes to a LOT!

I have tried to overcome every nasty thing my mom ever infused in me by going 180 degrees the other way to make up for it. I hate how she tried to raise me.

But...we can change people's minds. This is the woman who used to vote Republican so her taxes wouldn't go up. During the last election, she was helping the Dean campaign in Austin, side by side with Glen Maxey (an out gay), and all the other rainbow multitudes volunteering in the Austin office. I was very proud of her.

When I told her that reprehensor and I had sent flowers to some of the couples getting married in SF a few years go, I asked her what she thought of all of it. "Well, they're not bothering me. Let em be happy if that's what they want," she said. I think my jaw hit the ground.

My proudest moment as a liberal.

[ForeverWinter]

87. What a sweet story, Fudge Stripe.

Good for your mom!

[fudge stripe cookays]

104. Thanks.

She's still a very unpleasant person, but she's come a long way.

fsc

[katinmn]

59. Great post, LeftHander!

You're right that the right-wingers are using gay rights (which are simply human rights) as a wedge issue. Totally disgusting.

America must practice tolerance. We must protect civil rights.

61. Gay rights are civil rights

You have my support.

[myrna minx]

62. A K&R for all of my GLBT family members.

:hug: :kick:

[yellerpup]

63. K&R!

For every gay person in America.:kick:

[TechBear_Seattle]

64. However, we MUST let the Democrats use us and abuse us

It doesn't matter how often Democrats in Congress vote to support the "Defense" of Marriage Act. It doesn't matter how spineless Democrats are when it comes to supporting our employment rights. It doesn't matter how weasley Democrats are when it comes to adopting children or being foster parents.

As long as they are not Republicans, we must, for our own good, thank the Democrats profusely when they stop by, bend over and pray that they brought some lube this time.

[porphyrian]

67. Can I ignore the "log cabin" gays, though?

If I spend any time with them, I want to smack the shit out of them.

[MissMillie]

68. Hi !!!!

:hi:

Keeping this kicked for ya.

:hug:

[Phillycat]

69. I stand with you.

SOLIDARITY!

[Blue_Tires]

70. to the top

[Beer Snob-50]

71. Hello LH

I am proud to support you!! However can I have the toaster oven you received when you came out of the closet? Just curious..

[Tekla West]

74. Kickin it by the bay

As someone who works to keep the T in LGBT you know I'm down with you. My life is just that my life, not fodder for some wingnuts lust for power. People have a right to be free, or am I misreading the founding documents of our nation. To the degree that we give people freedom, we prosper. Funny, how the places where gay people and T-girls like myself are accorded the basic rights of humans are amoung the highest income levels, while the places that drive us out of town are the poorest. Perhaps they drove the creative people, the people willing to make change happen, the artists and the rest out, and with that, the potential income. People make fun of the Bay Area where I live, but it seems to me we do OK.
with love and support, tekla

[Amonester]

72. K&R!! Come celebrate with us the 1st Outgames if you can!!

1st World Outgames, Montreal 2006: http://www.montreal2006.org/home.html

:party:

It's Party Time at Le Village Gay this week and everyone is invited. My nephew just opened his new club (with many of his friends) on La Catherine and he welcomes everybody, LGBT people (of course) and straights from all over the planet.

Bienvenue! Welcome! :hi: :thumbsup:

[meatloaf]

73. Just checked my calendar, it is 2006 right?

How is it possible that the same nation that sent men to the moon, has cured numerous diseases, was founded on extremely progressive ideals, still wrestles with this issue. It would be laughable if it weren't so damn destructive and outright dangerous for those at the heart of the debate.

Sadly, If I'm honest with myself, I know and understand why we're still debating an issue that should've been overcome decades ago. Indoctrination starts early and doesn't let up, especially in certain areas. I was born and raised in Utah so I know first-hand how such regressive ideas can not only take root, but prosper. I doubt any state in this nation clings to a more naive and corrupt concept of a "christian nation" than Morman dominated Utah.

Early in the 80s when AIDS was still seen by many as the "gay disease" my own grand mother (dad's mom) casually announced, "I'm glad the fags are dying, aren't you?". I had just entered my teens and was very impressionable, but at my core I recognized the inherent evil of that statement. To this day it leaves me dumbfounded, and I shake my head in bewilderment. Here is this woman who has preached at me for years, who worries on and on about whether she'll be allowed into the "celestial kingdom", and she casually throws out one of the most evil, hateful statements I've ever heard.

How can anyone who calls themself a Christian behave this way? Believe this way?

Thankfully, I was raised primarily by my mother who taught me to be much more tolerant and open minded. I have to admit, the oppressive force of living in such a conservative state did taint me and my thought processes for some time, but as I learned more, as I grew more, those parts of me shaped by ignorance and hate fell away. By the time I enlisted in the Army I was a full-fledged liberal, though I still had a lot to learn about the "why" of what I believed, in my gut, I knew what was right.

So as a hard left ultra progressive liberal I am so very pleased to kick and recommend your post. It's about time this country started practicing what it preaches.

[LeftHander]

77. Excellent reply....thanks for your thoughts...nt

[IndependentVoice]

75. Very well put, Kicked n/t

[Dystopian]

78. K & R!!!!!! peace & joy to you...eom.

[GymDude]

79. Good for you for coming out, BUT...

What message have YOU been sending from the closet for 30 years? Yeah, now it's relatively safe....but some of us were *honest* and subtly working for change when it was not quite so popular. I hope you're not one of those who had a wife and kids to prove something....if so, YOU have been part of the problem.

[Red Right and BLUE]

86. It's a little late for chastising.

He went through enough to cover his true feelings and all of us have just sat here and read why. This is not an uncommon story. It's in really poor taste for you to criticize him.

He's out. It's a wonderful thing. Leave him alone if you can't celebrate with everyone else.

KICK and R

[BigBearJohn]

80. God loves you and SO DO I!!! K/R

[seemunkee]

81. Hi Lefty

I have no gay friends but my children do and they are always welcome at our home.

[Arugula Latte]

83. Hi LeftHander. I want to tell you something:

I am straight, married, kids, and I agree completely with you. Here is my family's little contribution to taking a stand in this world:

My son came home from school one day and had received the cub scout/boy scout speil. He wanted to join. We said, No, that group does not include every one. Let's start our own group. Three years later, we are going strong, and we have several families participating in our alternative group, including a couple of gay families. We do community service, hikes, educational events, fun stuff. We just got back from a group camping trip. The boys think nothing of it if one child's "two moms" come along on an event. We always march in a local little parade and when an explanation of our group is read over the loudspeaker, it gets big applause. We explain things simply: Some times a man and a woman love each other, sometimes two men love each other, and sometimes two women love each other. All are fine. We are teaching our boys that it is not okay to just "go along" with something that is wrong, that you have the power to change things a little bit at a time.

:hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

88. Very cool!

:thumbsup:

In other news, I flew through Portland for the first time the other day and was stunned lfying over the mountains coming in. Pretty state you have there! :D

[Arugula Latte]

91. Thanks!

Yep -- It is pretty cool to see those white mountains sticking up out of the green forest. We flew in from the East Coast a couple weeks ago and it was good to come back home (during a gorgeous purple/magenta sunset). I like seeing the peaks at a distance and being able to drive to the snow if we choose; I'm not big with the high altitude and harsh climate of actual mountain living.

[fudge stripe cookays]

95. Would LOVE to see more of it.

Unfortunately, I was on my way to the red hell of Spokane and Coeur d'Alene!

But it was for a family reunion, so got to meet some folks I hadn't met before. I would much rather have had the reunion in Portland! Mount Hood was gorgeous. The captain flew in nice and close to give us a good look out the porthole. I could almost reach out and touch it!

[Arugula Latte]

102. Ya'll come back and see us, ya hear?

When you come, besides checking out Portland, try to get to the Cannon Beach/Ecola State Park area on the Northern coast -- gorgeous! Multnomah Falls is an easy drive from Portland (loooooong waterfall -- big tourist draw), and Crater Lake is supposedly spectacular, although I've never been there :blush:.

[Initech]

85. I have always stood for GLBT rights

And the thing is, though is remember this - the fundies (and mainly the televangelists) dont just want to use your rights as a political football. They're using your rights in the same way that Lucy holds the football in front of Charlie Brown.

[im10ashus]

89. Welcome to being out.

We will be forwarding your toaster oven and all appropriate recruitment literature within 3-4 weeks.

:hi:

:hug:

[Moloch]

90. You waited until you were 43 to come out???

I was like 14. It must have been very hard on you to lie to people for that long.

I'm glad you decided to do the right thing by coming out. It is not conservatives, but "Uncle Tom" gays who do the most damage.

[ceile]

92. Enthusiastic K&R!

Thanks for sharing with us LH.

[Chi-Town Exile]

93. I stand with you.

We must stand up to those that wish to control the citizens of this country with hatred and bigotry.

[Nightjock]

96. With MY 1,000TH POST

I echo your sentiments and stand by you!

(I was saving my post number 1,000 for something special, but nothing I used it for could be more profound.)

[bobbolink]

You really, honestly and sincerely, believe you haven't received

support on DU?

I'm surprised to read this. It wasn't too long ago that there was a HUGE amount of support, and lots of calling and writing on behalf of gays concerning the Congressional vote. Didn't that count?

At that time, I saw lots of straight DUers changing their avatars for you, posting threads of support, soliciting calls and emails on your behalf. It seemed like quite a bit of support to me.

Could you tell me what is it that is lacking? What is it that you need more of?

You see, being poor, I'm well aware of the lack of support or concern for poverty issues. Pleas for calls and letters about the budget cuts sink like anchors around here. Very seldom is there much response to poverty issues. The poverty forum has about the lowest post count of any forums here, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is taken away.

I can tell you --that hurts!

So, tell ya what.... I'll gladly step up my support for gay issues, if you would do the same for poverty issues.

Deal?

[bobbolink]

111. No replies to this? No thoughts at all?

I actually thought expressing that I feel the same kind of hurt that you do would be something worth answering.

:shrug:

Do we really have nothing in common?

[bobbolink]

97. dupe

/

[bobbolink]

98. dupe

/

[PegDAC]

99. Hi, LeftHander

I'll stand with you anytime!!
:toast: :hi:

[PleadTheFirst]

100. A much deserved K&R

No laws should limit love. :hug:

[Anita Garcia]

101. NO I WILL NOT

NO I WILL NOT let my GAY friends and neighbors slip into the clutches of the RIGHT WING!

[ThatsMyBarack]

103. Kiqued!

;)

[svpadgham]

105. Hiya' LeftHander

I don't feel like ranting about the broken-wing republicans, so I'll just leave it at "hello." Broken-wing...I like that. They just keep squawkin' and flapping around in circles and taking this country nowhere.

[guinivere]

107. Well, here's my kick.

The gay community will always have my support.

[BrutalEntropy]

108. I will stand with you

I will stand against any discrimination of any person based on who they are.

As a straight male, I will gladly stand by your side, and with all the others that stand with you.

I live in Ohio, I wish that things weren't so bleak here for progressive issues in general. I will be voting in November, and I try to do what I can though :)

[imperial jedi]

109. K & R

n/t

[Jamastiene]

110. Kicking this thread.

Great post, btw.