The Quotable Queer

The GBLT community truly are a second class group of citizens in most of the world, even though that is beginning to change in countries like Canada, and even that movement has obstacles. In other countries it is not so wonderful. Check out HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD for a listing of GBLT-related laws across the globe. Also, read over the world timeline of the fight for GBLT rights around the world, as well as some of their other links there that have useful, concise information.

Most GBLT have no rights. Their families, friends and acquaintances need to know their pain, their experience. We can rise above that pain . . . use it as a source of personal power . . . to truly not be afraid to stand up and demand equal rights for the all minority groups. Not everyone has to be on the frontline . . . but there are many roles to play in this fight . . . simply take one that is most comfortable to you. There is no room for second class citzenship anywhere for anyone.

Here is a poem I found that sparked this endeavour. May it bring you some insight, compassion and understanding of the plight of those persecuted for simply who they are.

And you can Quote me on that. The Quotable Queer

I am not AFRAID…

I am the girl kicked out of her home because I confided in my mother that I am a lesbian.

I am the prostitute working the streets because nobody will hire a transsexual woman.

I am the sister who holds her gay brother tight through the painful, tear-filled nights.

We are the parents who buried our daughter long before her time.

I am the man who died alone in the hospital because they would not let my partner of twenty-seven years into the room.

I am the foster child who wakes up with nightmares of being taken away from the two fathers who are the only loving family I have ever had. I wish they could adopt me.

I am one of the lucky ones, I guess. I survived the attack that left me in a coma for three weeks, and in another year I will probably be able to walk again.

I am not one of the lucky ones. I killed myself just weeks before graduating high school. It was simply too much to bear.

We are the couple who had the realtor hang up on us when she found out we wanted to rent a one-bedroom for two men.

I am the person who never knows which bathroom I should use if I want to avoid getting the management called on me.

I am the mother who is not allowed to even visit the children I bore, nursed, and raised. The court says I am an unfit mother because I now live with another woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who found the support system grow suddenly cold and distant when they found out my abusive partner is also a woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who has no support system to turn to because I am male.

I am the father who has never hugged his son because I grew up afraid to show affection to other men.

I am the home-economics teacher who always wanted to teach gym until someone told me that only lesbians do that.

I am the man who died when the paramedics stopped treating me as soon as they realized I was transsexual.

I am the person who feels guilty because I think I could be a much better person if I didn‚t have to always deal with society hating me.

I am the man who stopped attending church, not because I don’t believe, but because they closed their doors to my kind.

I am the person who has to hide what this world needs most, love.

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I am the guy who came out to the entire school in his senior speech and got a standing ovation for his courage.

I am the girl who kisses her girlfriend on the sidewalk and laughs at those who glare.

We are the couple who planned and studied and got a damn good lawyer and BEAT the state that wanted to take our child away.

We are the ones who took martial arts classes and carry pepper spray and are just too dangerous to gaybash.

I am the transgendered person who uses the bathroom that suits me, and demands that any complaining staff explain their complaint to my face in front of the entire restaurant — and shares with my other trans friends
which restaurants /don’t/ raise a stink.

I am the mother who told her lesbian daughter to invite her girlfriend over for dinner.

I am the father who punished his son for calling you a fag.

I am the preacher who told my congregation that love, not hate, is the definition of a true follower of God.

I am making a difference. Hate will NOT win.
ANONYMOUS

In focusing on the last message of intent, I found myself quite overwhelmed at times. Navigating consecutive and even multiple situations at the same time can be quite taxing. It was imperative to take a break from these messages of intent to bring myself back into some sense of balance. Personal growth and evolution is definitely no easy task. That brings us to today’s message of intent.

“I will take respectful action to ease overwhelming situations and feelings.”

It is absolutely necessary to not become overwhelmed in the process of growth and evolving as a whole human being. When the process does bring about too intense of an experience or environment, it is not conducive to making long-term steps towards long-term change.

Also, it is critical when taking action to ease these troublesome situations and feelings to take action in a respectful manner. This requires balancing respect for yourself with respect for others and your environment. The difficult process of managing this balance can be assisted with meditation on proposed actions and the consequences of those actions on not only ourselves but those around us as well. In some situations and experiences involving immediate survival, time for deep meditation is not possible.

When I first wrote this Intent this morning, I thought it was a more comfortable place to restart the important personal work. Already, this Intent has shown itself in remarkable ways . . . and, indeed, I have managed to avoid or divert truly overwhelming sensations.

For instance, I was discussing with a friend going on a canal walk with a group tomorrow. Last week I was unable to make it to the walk, which was certainly disappointing for my friend. However, it was the best decision I could make at the time. Tonight, he said, “You must make up for it.” For me, the answer was simple and concise. If I was in a state of mind that was up for walking, then I would do it; if not, then I wouldn’t be walking.

At first glance, this may seem as if it maybe disrespectful to my friend. However, if I put myself into a sitaution that has a causal relationship with disruption to my mind, body and spirit, how does that respect myself? Furthermore, if I am disrupted internally when walking with my friend, how does that possibly respect him and our time together?

To me, this is a balanced action to make it less probable of being overwhelmed tomorrow evening. It not only respects my own needs and feelings, but it respects the friendship we have. If someone was not feeling well, I simply would not want them to do things that made them feel worse. That would make me feel less well in the process.

Taking respectful action to ease the overwhelming moments in our lives is truly a remarkable intent. It brings about meditation to discover the best balance of respect and action which can be transferable to any experience in life. Also, it allows us to continue moving instead of becoming frozen in fear and terror. By easing our inner angst, we can only be more capable of taking another step. If we were to allow ourselves to overload and fall down, then we have to rebuild, rediscover what we have already done, what we have already learned. To me, that seems quite counter-productive.

And you can Quote me on that. The Quotable Queer

In an email dated 8/2/2005, Chris Stewart, representative of 1AHosting.com, a web hosting reseller online, refused a hosting order placed by Rose Petal, indicating that 1AHosting.com doesn’t host adult content.

In an email, Mr. Stewart states: “Sorry ,Please go else where for hosting as we DO NOT Host what my childern cannot view with me. Good day….”

While Mr. Stewart is free to refuse service to anyone he chooses, we just felt it necessary to point out publicly, how this particular business views the gay and lesbian community.

I imagine Mr. Stewart doesn’t allow his children to view ANYTHING on the Bravo channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, or watch the news, or read the newspaper, and I hope that approach works out for him and his children.

So, BEWARE OF 1AHOSTING.COM, they don’t like gay folks, and consider our lives as “Adult Material”. Go get ‘em folks.

Respectfully submitted,
JAC