Change is in the air

According to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, "Support of same-sex marriage is very quickly losings its stigma as a political risk."
Doesn't that make you feel better. Read the attached article.

The Media Message Driving the Sudden Shift on Marriage - Wilshire & Washington on Variety.com

Bipartisan support for marriage equality

Who would have imagined--not only support for marriage equality, but bipartisan support and financial support. Wow.

Last night, the American Foundation for Equal Rights (the organization that led the legal battle to challenge Proposition 8) held a fund-raising event in New York City, where they raised $1.2 million.
Ken Mehlman, former Repubican party official who recently announced he was gay, was one of the chairs of the event--an event with huge support from Wall Street.
“It was an honor to be able to bring together so many to support AFER’s historic effort on behalf of the right of all Americans to marry the person they love,” Mr. Mehlman said in an e-mail to DealBook.
Mehlman thanked the many first-time donors and honored their committment to help the cause for equal rights.
Well, that made my day!

Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" & pass The Dream Act

These is a must! Bury them in the defense bill to get them through, otherwise political infighting will never allow these issues to be resolved.
Today I read about a decorated Air Force Reserve flight nurse who was outed from the military for being lesbian. She said she spent half her life training to take care of wounded soldiers. She claimed that no one in her unit or any of her patients had issue with her sexual orientation.
"I miss being able to be the one that a soldier looks at, and I can do something for him. I'm not complete, and it kills me to not be there," she said.
As for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Drem Act, how can our country discriminate against people who have so much to offer our country.
We need both!!!!

A protective mother or not?

For the past week or so, I was house boating on Lake Powell--rugged beauty and serenity. There, at Glen Canyon Dam, the waters and tributaries of the Colorado River are backed up 185 miles creating Lake Powell in the bold sandstone canyons.
Our group included some people I hardly knew, so when a few gay slurs erupted here and there I cringed and remained silent. Frankly, it was the last thing I expected since everyone avoided discussing politics or religion. This was all about fun.
I guess they didn't have any sensitivity to gayness.
Right or wrong, in those close quarters, I made a conscious decision to keep silent about my gay children, my commitment to marriage equality and my advocacy for gay issues. I was so defiantly silent, I never even talked about my family at all.
It made me realize again how tough it is for LGBT individuals to come out over and over again. Also, it made me understand that these same people aren't required to announce their sexuality in every situation.
Everyone has personal issues that they protect in specific situations.
At some point, if I socialize with these people again, I'll surely discuss my gay children and my advocacy for marriage equality. But floating around in a big house boat on Lake Powell with them for a week or so, I felt like a protective mother, quiet against the silent canyon walls. Maybe I'm wrong.

"Come out for yourself--stay out for others"

When Ken Mehlman officially announced he is gay on Wednesday, the former Republican National Committee Chairman from 2005-2007, said he wished he had come out while he was the face of the anti-gay Republican party platform.
Good for Ken Mehlman. How difficult it had to be for him to remain closeted for so long and in such an anti-gay environment. He admitted that the Republican anti-gay strategy is a "purely cynical attempt to manipulate the American public."
With his new freedom, Mehlman plants to join the fight for marriage equality.
Way to go!
On the same subject, in a beautiful piece for the Huffington Post on Aug. 31, Frank J. Miles wrote "Come Out for Yourself--Stay Out for Others," and talks with pride about the difficulty and bravery each LGBT individual has to deal with in coming out. But more importantly, he details how that same determination should be used to make important contributions to society. It is an inspiring read! Check it out on the Huffington Post--it will brighten your day!.