More than you do.
More, to make up for the Less of others.
More, to set things right.
More, because you deserve it.
More, in addition to 'at all,'
since the church and schools and our families and
the state messed that lesson up so bangingly well.

Seussin' Out on a Q-Nug

Dr. Seuss was a gay old soul, with a super message
for family! (Pictured above; Miss Thing 1 and Miss
Thing 2.) Here's my version of some Seuss magic,
for kids young and old!

In case no one told you
let me be the first to say,
"It's okay to be you...
It's okay to be gay!"

To say what you feel,
to live life each day,
to not live in hiding,
to choose your own way,

No matter how many
grind you under their heel,
Being you's not just 'okay'
it's what makes you real!

When in the morning
while lifting your head,
before you've forgotten to
think different, instead,

When you open your eyes
and your dream's still alive,
and you feel in your heart
the passion to thrive...
before the world crashes in,
remember that start!

Before you're beat down
and choked by the 'rules,'
before conformity crushes
through churches and schools,

SAVE that special part
that lives deep within
Protect and aspire
and have your moment of Zen!
(No matter if those
who support you
number 'Zero'
or one-hundred and ten!)

Here's a hint and a clue--
beginning middle and end--
it works all the way through;

There are those who condemn others
cuz they can't accept them...
they're crazy and hurtful
and ungodly, too,
but it has absolutely nothing to do
with other people...
including you.

So say what you wish
and feel what you feel,
it's not just okay--
It's what makes you Real!

***

"Do's and Don'ts of Being a Gay Activist"

(Viktor Kerney, activist and author of
"Maybe It's Just Me")

This is a great article from a sister blog called "Maybe it's Just Me."

He does some great stuff, and he gave me permission to re-post
this especially well-done piece on "Do's and Don'ts of Being a Gay
Activist" that he recently wrote!

Enjoy!

****************************************************
This gay activist stuff is no joke. I had no idea what I was getting into;
but I can't complain, it's been an interesting experience. Free trips,
meeting great folks and getting great opportunities, it's truly been
rewarding.


But I thought I would share some nuggets of info for those who are
thinking about getting into the activist game.

DO know where you stand on the issues and stand firm.


DON'T just follow other activists blindly, they can and will be wrong
at times.


DO research all causes, laws and lawmakers.


DON'T accept anyone's word, without proof of truth.


DO realize that your views may not be popular.


DON'T kiss ass to be popular. Many activists try anything to get the
attention of the JoeMyGods out there. Just be yourself and stand firm
with your beliefs.


DO know the gay rights fight is long and tedious.


DON'T think our civil rights can be completed in a presidential term.


DO know the political game.


DON'T be naive about politics.


DO know how to be strategic.


DON'T go all in without plan B & C.


DO know who and what you're fighting.


DON'T fight everyone and every battle.


DO have an open mind.


DON'T suffer from tunnel vision and group think.


DO remember it's about our community.


DON'T make it all about you.


Okay, that's my 3 cents.


**********************************************************

"Maybe it's Just Me..."

Tampa AIDS Network: Sticks of Fire

Rummaging through my boxes-o-junk,

I ran across some photographs I had forgotten about.

These are from the "Sticks of Fire" fundraiser I hosted at

Tung Nam Restaurant in Brandon, back when TAN

(Tampa AIDS Network) was still called TAN.

That's Mom with me above,

and below is the group of friends and family

that showed up to support.

Robyn Crittenden, front left, was just lost

to cancer last year.

I was glad to find this pic and remember some

of the good times we had, including this night,

and the dessert reception at University of Tampa

later that night.

You never know when you're going to lose people,

and it's always hard to lose them young.

Been feeling kind of nostalgic lately, not just

for the old gang and the old stomping grounds,

but for days when things were at least

the pretense of simpler.

***

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Hump day shout-out to all my brothers and sisters;
fight the fight.

Haters can Suck it!

Live long and prosper--it's the best revenge!

*************************************************************

Football? What football?

***

Hate Groups Try To Ruin Another Republic

Fight the good fight; oppose evil everywhere!

The Force is With You!

So those Fuck-wads at the "Family Research Council" (the idiot
anti-gay hate group) are protesting and trying to change things at
BioWare, the company that produced the new "Star Wars:The
Old Republic" MMO game.

The new online video game allows players to choose same-sex
relationships or status when creating and picking their fictional
characters. (Yay!) The FRC dolts think everyone thinks like
them--or they're upset because they know we don't--and they're
trying to put the Kabosh on it all.

So, do your part...
sign in to the forums and post an appreciative or supportive
comment for the game and company. Here's the game site;
https://account.swtor.com/user/register

Or just contact the company and let them know your thoughts
in support of the game and the same-sex character existence.

Mailing Address:

BioWare Edmonton
200-4445 Calgary Trail NW
Edmonton AB
Canada T6H 5R7

E-mail: contact@bioware.com
Phone: 780-430-0164
Fax: 780-439-6374


Remember; brief and professional is best!*************************************************

Due Date Diligence

It's going to be HILARIOUS when--in about

a year from now, maybe on through about

September--all the teens of Conservative

'Christians' are popping up with babies

out-of-wedlock! "But, but, Super-Tightly-

Wound-Jesus-freak-Mom...you SAID the

world was gonna end! I had to know what

sex was all about before I died!" Oy!

****

Is it in You?

"Hmmmnnn...The Force is strong

in this one!"

"I think you mean 'The Fierce,' honey....

but I'll take it!

They're both too true!"

*********

The Lens--and the Viewer--are Flawed

Conservative so-called Xians are always pointing to the supposed

character flaws inherent in gay men as a leading reason why we have

little to offer society. Well, if it's more 'upstanding' types you're looking

for, look to all the gays who are in the middle of--and running--all of

YOUR organizations and churches. All those grand, upstanding pillars

of the community, living a complete and utter lie.

***

Why I Love Popeye

He's not worried about fashion.

He's not worried about the fact that he looks different.

He's tough, determined, and courageous.

He doesn't mind taking on a bully three times bigger than him.

He embraces his weirdness.

His motto is "I Am What I Am."

He does his thing and doesn't give a flip what the rest of the
  world thinks, says, or does about it.

YOU GO, POPEYE!

*************************************************

Many Happy Returns

(As a practice, I don't normally import original content from one
blog to another, but this is from my Georgia Unity blog this week.)
                         *****
I want to stop and take a moment for some clarity.


"Thank You," to all our haters.


I want to express the mountain of Love I have for
the Michelle & Marcus Bachmanns, the Fred Phelps
sorts, the Rick Santorums, the Mitt Romneys, and
the Pat Robertsons.


You are the reason I am such a strength. Why I
will continue to gather and promote power.


You are what motivates me to fight on, to persevere,
to speak up and stand out and find that inner strength
that exists within us all.

You are the reason a whole new generation of my
brothers and sisters are galvanizing, forging together
as one to defeat the enemy. If left to our own devices,
we likely would not have been so resolute or determined,
but the clarion call of defending ourselves against your
misguided vivisecting is a godsend.


I am more whole because of you.


I am steadfastly fierce and fiery because of you.


I am toughened, motivated, and hastened by your threat.

I am more determined to never cease, and never give in.
You are the cornerstone of proof needed to showcase the
real demons facing me and mine every day.


Each child's death, spurred on by your hate and selfishness
and misinformation, only ensures that our lives will be
more focused on meting out justice, on changing the
backwardness of the land, of combating evils like
you and yours.

Each adult's life lived in exile from their own body,
suppressed and fearful and self-loathing, based on
your nonsensical dogma and rhetoric, will spur me
on to victory at any cost.
You have convinced me there is no god, because no
god would support the likes of you, and no god would
allow you to misuse its truly holy name. No god would
permit your devilish existence.


And I now know that, no matter how down-and-out
and nutsy-squirrel I become, I will never be the most
bat-shit crazy dope-headed ignorant fucker in the room,
cuz you all have that shit hammered down and notarized.


Thank you, and again;
I love you and appreciate you for the purpose you give
my day. I will beat you. Me and mine are locked in
battle to live well and leave your sad sickness in the dust.


All your hard work has paid off handsomely.


***************************************

Corey Hart - Never Surrender

He's still as sweet and fine as ever....
and the song is still as pertinent and
empowering as ever.

I figure it's time for a whole new generation
to hear some encouraging words.

This was my anthem as a teenager;
probably saved my life.

*****************************

Rita Mae Brown quotes

I think the reward for conformity is everyone likes you but yourself.

                                                    ***

No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love.
The only queer people are those who don't love anybody.

                                                    ***

I became a lesbian out of devout Christian charity. All those women out there are praying for a man and I gave them my share.

                                                     ***

About all you can do in life is be who you are.
Some people will love you for you.
Most will love you for what you can do for them,
and some won't like you at all.


                                                                        ***

New Rules

Strike Out, Not In...

Fight Back.

Be Yourself,

at all costs.

It isn't about muscle or might;

we all have the strength of Spirit

and Resolve

necessary to survive

and thrive.

Stop listening to the voices

of dissent,

start discovering the champion

within.

******************************

The Right Question

They will train you to doubt yourself
and be disdainful of love.

They will teach you to be alien to
your own affections and body.

They will require you, as rite of
passage and admission to their
clubhouse, to look upon your
own tribe with shame.

They will submit you to demands
that suppress your truth and
support their fictions.

They will pretend that you
are not a part of the whole,
and make you invisible and mute.

They will lie and avoid and mask
in order to make of us what they
wish.

These things are all givens.
These ordeals have been survived
for centuries.

The only question is...
What will WE do?

******************************

Recommended Reading

Open up whole new worlds with these great books!

1.)  LOVING SOMEONE GAY by Don Clark, PhD

     http://www.donclarkphd.com/loving-someone-gay.html


2.)  THE VELVET RAGE: Overcoming the Pain of Growing up Gay in a Straight Man's World 
      by Alan Downs, PhD

     http://www.alandowns.com/services


3.)  BECOMING A MAN: Half a Life Story by Paul Monette

            http://www.harpercollins.com/author/authorExtra.aspx?isbn13=9780060595647&displayType=readingGuide


4.)  FINDING THE BOYFRIEND WITHIN: A Practical Guide for Tapping Into Your Own
      Source of Love, Happiness, and Respect by Brad Gooch

      http://www.bradgooch.net/finding_the_boyfriend_within_88659.htm


5.)  REFLECTIONS OF A ROCK LOBSTER: A Story About Growing Up Gay
       by Aaron Fricke

      http://redroom.com/member/aaron-fricke/books/reflections-of-a-rock-lobster-a-story-about-growing-up-gay



There are plenty of other excellent books about overcoming the difficulties of growing
up gay (LGBTQ) in this world. Some great resources to help make life more easily
understood and easily weathered. I recommend checking them out.

If you can't afford to purchase, many states will allow you to special order books
from other library branches and have them delivered to yours. Or check out online
used book sales. If privacy is a concern, check out the availability of pdf formats
as many books are available entirely online.

I'll have more of these in the future. We have similar experiences, but many voices.
Hearing all of them helps.

**************************************************************

Sociology..and Understanding

FIGHT BACK: A message from Cynthia Nixon

A new platform

I love this!


This was done by Ashly, of NewAgeAmazon.buzznet.com
to advertise her mag, The Riot.


This is exactly the Warrior attitude we need in the gay
community to take a stand against the outdated and
unacceptable notions and actions that persist.


And while many might erroneously think that because of
strides and visibility, we are doing better, we are actually
in a precarious place.


All the bigots and crazies are going to come at us harder
than ever because they see us as a threat to their lives
(Why? Who knows why crazy people do anything.
They're stupid, they're gullible, they're scared, they're
unwilling to change. That's all we need to know.)

The true directive is to get stronger; that's what we can control.
Let's give them something to worry about!

*******************************************