Closeted Men

There are a lot of different takes on men who remain in
the closet. However, unless such a person is actively
targeting other gay people with homophobic verbage
or action, I only have compassion for them.

Here's an excellent site from the point of view that
married gay/bi men in particular have a lot of specific
special needs and complicated stories.

Maybe you can relate to what you read. Maybe you
or someone you know is (or was) in such a situation.
It's delicate, it's personal, and only the person involved
and their wife and kids (or husband and kids in the case
of closeted women) can make the decisions necessary.

Read, get educated, be connected, and think things
through. But you aren't alone, and you don't have to be
without resources...regardless of what decision you make.

www.marriedgay.org

You can bleed and die for us...

"You can bleed and die for us....just don't expect those freedoms
you're fighting and sacrificing for to extend to your worthless
faggot ass."


No, the DOJ didn't actually finally release the above statement
about the thousands of gay and lesbian service members serving in
our military, but they might as well have.


The much-touted "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) surveys were sent
out, and the questions included have hit the Internet. Every one of
them stilted and accusatory, making it sound worse than the right-wing
propaganda that has been behind this anti-gay push all along.


Not to mention, it's likely really a ploy to IDENTIFY gay/lesbian
members--and those sympathetic to them--so that when this archaic
shit remains in effect, our ignorant ass government can do a new house
cleaning. Yeah, help our military; get rid of the brighter, more effective
ones.


It's all calamity-filled and hysterics like sharing a bathroom with a gay
guy will make the rest of the platoon resign or go AWOL. And it
even goes beyond the scope of DADT, thereby muddying the waters
and further invalidating the waters, by asking its questions in relation to
'perceived' gay and lesbian service members.


This shit reads like a bad sleepover with a bunch of little girls.
"So, like, if Bobby J. showed up, and you were already with
Joe, but you liked Bobby better...what would you dooooo!?!"
Tee-hee-hee.


I really am laughing about the inanity of our military forces being
run by a bunch of numb-nut pencil pushers who think that ridding
the military of queers is their top fucking priority.


It's equally a laugh riot that so many 'non-traditional' families get
no support or recognition while their same-sex partner is risking
their life for a nation that fears and hates them.


Or that people have lost their careers, their pensions, their dignity
because of this back-woods hillbilly lame-ass policy being touted
as necessary in the 'most free country in the world' in 2010.


I get cramps from laughing so hard about all the dead gays and
lesbians who were not honored as full people, but were disrespected
by their country and the division they devoted themselves to.


What a world.

HEARTSTRONG, INC.

Remembering Robbie Kirkland

A kept promise 

 

In 2001, I stood with Robbie Kirkland's mom, Leslie Sadasivan, in Robbie's bedroom.
It was as if he had just left for school that day. Not much had changed in that room.

In fact, as we begin to sift through his belongings and in particular his school notebooks,
we began to find more clues as to how he got to a place of no return.

Robbie's mom knew he was struggling at his Catholic school. When I opened one of his
notebooks I found the phrase "I hate the way god made me" scribbled over and over again.

I didn't have to look any further. Those words written in a panic clearly explained the
course of Robbie's short life.

That day, I promised Leslie that at HeartStrong we would never forget her son and never
stop reminding our HeartStrong Friends of all of the "Robbie's" in this world.

It's been a while since we last talked about Robbie who for us symbolizes so many students
at religious schools who attempt or succeed at taking their lives.

I know there are a lot of people reading this email who don't know about Robbie or others
like him so we thought we would publish his story again. I am also including a link here to
some photos his mom has made available.

A lot of time has passed since I stood in Robbie's bedroom trying not to cry in front of his still
grieving mother. Over these years I have met many other parents who sent their children to
religious schools and were then grieving over their deaths.

I am often asked how it's possible for me (or anyone) to continue doing the work of HeartStrong
without large amounts of public support. My answer is always the same, I do it for Robbie and
every other boy or girl who has ever struggled to stay alive in an educational environment which
teaches them to hate and reject who they are.

I could have been a "Robbie." So many of my friends could have been a "Robbie." How we found
enough grace to accept ourselves is how we are able to help others still on that journey.

Marc Adams

For more Info, check out www.heartstrong.org

Positive Religion for Gays: Gaychurch.org

If you're home bound, shy, or leery of groups,
check out this website for an alternative to
the mind-and-spirit numbing effect of the
fire-and-brimstone churches of much of
this sad world.

There is only one way to express love; fully.

http://www.gaychurch.org/

"WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?"

Rock on, Jesus!

And who are those protesting these billboards?

The ones who have (Truly) been misrepresenting
the word and teachings of the King of Peace for decades.

Righteous! Radical! Recognize!

Positive Religion for Gays:Unitarian Universalist

"Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person." Hmmm..what a concept!

Copied from their website ate their seven governing principles:

"There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

If you would like to learn more or see about attending, check out their website at:


http://www.uua.org/

http://www.uua.org/socialmedia/blogs/

Positive Religion for Gays: Metropolitan Community Church

Next verse, same as the first.

Not all churches honor God, but a bad experience with
a bad church need not cause us to eliminate God (or
spirituality) from our lives.

Here's another church for those who are interested in
finding/reconnecting with a spiritual component,
specifically in an organized group context.

Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) started in 1968
as a congregation specifically dedicated to the LGBT
community. For more info, check below.

Enjoy!


http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

(Link isn't working for some reason; please "Copy" and "Paste"
the info!)