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?

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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!

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

WE GIVE A DAMN #1

Tennessee Discrimination

Scary, scary stuff you need to be aware of.


The backlash is beginning. Be educated.


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