WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

Obama was heckled from the crowd today, at a fundraiser in California, because he still hasn't repealed the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy.

I don't agree with heckeling Obama. But, it is shedding a bright light on how he hasn't followed through with what he promised to do back in 2008 - so maybe this one isn't too bad.

It's 2010 and close to nothing has been done in regards to providing equal rights for the LGBT community. Why no love Obama...we helped you get elected, do something!

BAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT FOR EQUALITY - HOME AND ABROAD

THE STORY

While spending time in Chicago over the Christmas holiday a close gay friend of mine told me about his new job. He said, "One of the other guys in my office is extremely gay," followed with an impression of a stereotypical gay man's "womanly voice."

A chorus of laughs erupted from the other people listening to the story. Another friend said, "Oh, you mean he's a momma's boy," followed by another round of laughs.

Later in the trip I involved myself in a debate on gay marriage. My friend lived in London and he mentioned that British gays laugh at American gays because they believe we need to get over the word "marriage" and deal with "civil union."

I told him that I firmly believe in the stance given Portia De Rossi on The View. Here’s the interaction between De Rossi and Elizabeth Hasselbeck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lNeE4QEVSw

"Take men and women. Women want all the rights of men, but they're not asking to be called men," Hasselbeck said. "Do you think...is the word [marriage] more important than the rights?"

"No, of course the word isn't more important than the rights," De Rossi responded. "Without the word, we don't have equal rights."

DeRossi then hit it right on the money with the following comment:

"Every citizen of this country should have that legal right to be married. Marriage, the word, actually does mean something because people who see a gay coupling as a lesser thing in society can continue to [think] it's lesser than marriage when really it's the exact same thing. [It’s] the exact same love, the exact same commitment, love of family."

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DECIPHERING IT ALL

I woke up in the early hours of Christmas morning – laying on an air mattress in the bedroom I grew up in - reflecting on the aforementioned conversations.

I clearly remember the jabs my high school buddies and I would trade with each other - redneck, Guido, Pollock, gay, etc. I participated and/or laughed at many of our attempts at hilarity which I now equate to childish and immature trash talk that really wasn’t meant to be harmful.

But when I hear these remarks now, as I stand older, wiser and in a country that still hasn't afforded me equal rights, I find this behavior to be disheartening. Moreover, blatant discrimination within a minority group - my minority group - lights a blazing fire within me I've found hard to extinguish.

DEATH PENALTY FOR GAYS IN UGANDA

As I complain about the unfair equality issues in U.S., reports are released about proposed legislation that would impose the death penalty for gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail.

This proposed "gay genocide" challenges gay Ugandans - stop being who you are as a human being or be put to death. Family and friends will need to choose between love for another human and their quality of life.

CONCLUSION

It's hard to fathom oppression of this magnitude with what I'm afforded as a gay American. With strong people like De Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres, I believe our country is making steps towards equality.

The proposed gay genocide in Uganda shows how far the LGBT people around the world need to go for not only LGBT equal rights - but human rights!

We need to band together and fight for equality - at home and abroad - and not participate in senseless remarks that bring our people down – there’s enough of that horrible behavior out there already!

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

"I am here today because of a conversation I had last June when I was voting. A woman at my polling place asked me, "Do you believe in equal, equality for gay and lesbian people?" I was pretty surprised to be asked a question like that. It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, "What do you think our boys fought for at Omaha Beach?" I haven't seen much, so much blood and guts, so much suffering, much sacrifice. For what? For freedom and equality. These are the values that give America a great nation, one worth dying for."

--Philip Spooner, 86 years old, lifetime Republican, World War II veteran and gay marriage supporter.

I wish more Philip Spooner's would stand up and speak their mind!

EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL AMERICANS!

Why should my family not have the same civil rights as the rest of the country?

It was a typical morning our house. John, in his adorable suit and tie, woke me up to kiss me goodbye as he took off to start his day. I cuddle with the girls and try to get back to sleep as we currently aren't on any sort of schedule. When I get up, usually leaving Doris and DeRosa in bed to sleep the rest of the morning away, I turn on Regis and Kelly, check my email and start in on my usual web browsing.

I logged into facebook to see what's happening with my friends and saw a poll that asked: Do you believe marriage should be between only a woman and a man. The person who posted this was someone I knew in high school and haven't seen in over 13 years. She believed: YES, marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

Angry wouldn't really describe how mad I was when I saw her answer to this poll. How could this hateful mentality only be a facebook "friend" away from me! I'm continually amazed at how brazen some people are with their opinion on this matter. If I were heterosexual this would never affect my life so why would I care if gay people got married?

Once I cooled my jets I took the poll, obviously stating NO, marriage shouldn't only be between a man and a woman. I also wrote the following:

Our constitution is founded on EQUAL rights for all Americans. As it stands right now the LGBT community isn't afforded the same rights as their heterosexual neighbors - this is clearly unfair. No matter what YOUR religious or moral beliefs are - this country needs to wake up and realize we all should be treated EQUAL! Decide what side of history you want to be on with this issue. Would you have been the person who would vote against mixed marriages or woman having the right to vote? Seriously people, wake up and smell the ignorance surrounding this issue!

When John and I started dating I told our friend CaTanya that I thought we would need a good five years before we could know for sure on whether we wanted to get married/civil unioned or not. We will be together three years this November and as of right now we haven't had any serious marriage talks. But if/when we are ready, we should be able to have the same rights as our heterosexual friends and family!