April 2003 Archives

I just had the best dinner I've had in well.... three nights (ate at Costa del Sol last Saturday night - that topped mine). But, our dinner tonight was good! We had filet mignon. Ok, I'm trying to get over this French grudge that I have and ummmm embrace the #%$!$%$# French again. So, I bought filet mignon, and had a French wine (still sipping on it as I write this blog). Tonight, I'm done with political news. I came across some interesting stories that I thought I'd share. Not really "news" per se' (French again!), but more humorous. I hope you enjoy them. Good night everyone!

Man charged with barking at police dog. Richard "Tyson" Dillon, 25, faces a misdemeanor charge that he willfully and maliciously interfered with a Palo Alto police officer's duty by teasing and agitating the officer's dog. Dillon, who could face up to a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted, pleaded innocent in a Palo Alto courtroom Tuesday. The incident occurred March 5, on Mardi Gras night, when Dillon, a bartender, and a co-worker were walking in downtown Palo Alto and passed a group of officers standing by their patrol cars.

Eight people suing co-worker for urinating in coffee pot. Peeing in a coffee pot could cost millions. Eight people are suing for $600,000 apiece, in the case of a Poe office worker who peed in the pot.
Dayum! I guess I should stop complaining about the free coffee at work. Things could be worse.

Huge squid with eyes the size of dinner plates is caught. Fishermen working in Antarctic waters have made an extremely rare catch -- a colossal squid with eyes as big as dinner plates and razor-sharp hooks on its tentacles, a marine researcher said Thursday. The 330-pound, 16-foot-long specimen was caught in the Ross Sea, said Steve O'Shea, a research fellow with the Auckland University of Technology. He said the squid was a young female; adults are much bigger.

Man says vomiting robbed him of his right to remain silent. You have the right to remain silent, but what if you vomit evidence before police read you your rights? Stamford, CT - Vincent Betances wants his drug-dealing conviction thrown out, arguing that eight bags of heroin he threw up after emergency medical treatment should never have been admitted into evidence. He contends police illegally seized the evidence from an ambulance after asking him if he'd swallowed heroin but before reading him his rights.

Gay rights advocates press for changes in law. HARRISBURG — Invoking U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's name as a symbol of the repressive attitudes they say they are fighting, gay-rights advocates Tuesday called on Pennsylvania lawmakers to outlaw certain types of discrimination against homosexuals and transgender people. Speakers noted the furor over Santorum's remarks in a recent interview with The Associated Press in which he compared homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery.

I picked up another article on Alternet.org on Senator Santorum. It approaches the whole philosophy of Senator Santorum on the issue of government involvement in the sexual practices of the public... very interesting.

Gay students want respect, compassion. DANVILLE, CA -Gay students, their supporters and some parents turned out at Tuesday night's school board meeting to demand more tolerance and respect for gay and lesbian students on San Ramon Valley school district campuses. More than 300 people packed the multipurpose room of Charlotte Wood Middle School in a highly charged meeting. The students say the district is not doing enough to enforce Assembly Bill 537, passed in 2000, which safeguards students' gender identity and orientation. The students want the school board to form a safety committee to address intolerance. At a recent club fair at Monte Vista, students told the club, "Kill the fags" and "Go home, you don't belong here" within earshot of school administrators. Rachel Floyd, Queer Youth coordinator, said many students are afraid to "come out" or sound like whiners, and that anti-gay harassment is pervasive throughout schools in Contra Costa County. Floyd said many students may mean no harm when they use "faggot" or "gay" in conversation, but the words are hurtful and demeaning to gay students, even if not directed at them. "The effect is destructive," Floyd said. "Gay students commit suicide at seven times the rate of their straight peers. You can't use the 'N' word to refer to a race, yet homophobia is the last hold out on campus and it's huge."

I got this in an email and thought it was funny. I'll share it with all of you.

While suturing a laceration on the hand of a 70-year-old Texas rancher (whose hand had caught in a gate while working cattle), a doctor and the old man were talking about George W. Bush being in the White House. The old Texan said, "Well, ya know, Bush is a 'post turtle.'"

Not knowing what the old man meant, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was. The old man said, "When you're driving down a country road, and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle.

The old man saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain, "You know he didn't get there by himself, he doesn't belong there, he can't get anything done while he's up there, and you just want to help the poor dumb thing get down."

I got a call from Sean tonight. He's doing well, but has a cold. And, he'd really love to go with me to the Virgin Islands. I'm going to go see him in a week or so before I go on vacation. The exercise program is going well. Now, I have to keep telling myself to keep doing it, which is hard. My muscles hurt like hell, but I am starting to loose weight. Also, I've noticed that my energy levels have increased. Tomorrow is weight training again. Argh!

'Keep Gays Out Of Baseball'. Denver, Colorado) Colorado Rockies reliever Todd Jones has caused a furor saying gay players should not be allowed in major league baseball. "I wouldn't want a gay guy being around me," Jones told the Denver Post. "It's got nothing to do with me being scared. That's the problem: All these people say he's got all these rights. Yeah, he's got rights or whatever, but he shouldn't walk around proud. It's like he's rubbing it in our face. 'See me, Hear me roar.' We're not trying to be close-minded, but then again, why be confrontational when you don't really have to be?"
Actually, it's got a lot to do with being scared and insecure about gay people. If Todd Jones were secure with his own sexuality and manhood, he would not feel so threatened. Another point I'd like to make... What is he referring to when he said "That's the problem: All these people say he's got all these rights. Yeah, he's got rights or whatever, but he shouldn't walk around proud."? As a gay man I have no more "rights" than anyone else. I have the right to freedom (to an extent), free speech (which I'm exercising now), but there are also "rights" that Mr. Jones have that I will probably never have in my lifetime. Why is that so difficult to understand? Is it because he's just a big dumb jock with a small penis that causes him to brain lock? I don't know. If I had all the rights Mr. Jones has, I would be able to marry the person I love and have that marriage respected in all 50 states. I would not have to worry about inheritance, etc. I just don't understand that when people start talking about gay people, they talk in terms of us wanting "special rights". If I hear that one more time, I'm going to scream. They need to pull their heads out of their asses and THINK about what they are saying. I challenge ANYONE to mention one "special right" that we are asking for that others do not have, and take for granted! Just one. Anyone???

Republican Lawmakers Back Senator in Gay Dispute. ASHINGTON, April 29 — Republican leaders in Congress gave strong backing to Senator Rick Santorum today, dismissing calls by gay rights groups and Democrats for him to be replaced as the third-ranking Republican in the Senate for remarks about homosexuality. Senior officials in both houses swiftly rose to Mr. Santorum's defense as Congress returned from a two-week recess and the lawmakers faced questions about him from reporters. "I think Senator Santorum took a very courageous and moral position based upon principles and his world view," said Representative Tom DeLay, the House majority leader from Texas.

Republican leaders defend Santorum - Remarks on gays won't affect Senate position. Republican leaders have thrown their support behind Sen. Rick Santorum, saying the Pennsylvania Republican will retain his party leadership post despite stirring controversy for equating homosexuality with adultery, bigamy and incest. Asked whether the Pennsylvania Republican would keep his post as the No. 3 GOP leader in the chamber, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., told reporters in Washington, "absolutely he will remain in leadership." "He has the full 100 percent confidence of the Republican leadership in the United States Senate," said Frist.

Gay-rights advocates blast senator. Santorum's remarks fuel calls for him to step down from his post. Gay rights advocates, who yesterday rallied at the Capitol, said remarks made by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum labeling gays as "antithetical" to families would inspire their battle to win civil rights protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Pennsylvanians. State Human Relations Commission member Stephen A. Glassman of Gettysburg challenged Santorum to debate his remarks. Glassman and several other gay rights leaders demanded that Santorum, chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, quit his Senate seat. But U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and even some of Santorum's GOP Senate critics said Pennsylvania's most powerful Republican is in no danger of losing his leadership post.

U.N. puts pro-gay resolution on hold. The United Nations Human Rights Commission put a resolution condemning antigay discrimination on hold Friday--and doesn't plan to reconsider it until next year, Agence France-Presse reports. The proposal, which would have been the first such pro-gay resolution from the international body, was hurt by the United States's refusal to back it, the news service said.

Concord Church Banished For Baptizing Two Gay Men. A North Carolina church was expelled from a local Baptist association for baptizing two gay men. Leaders of the Cabaruss (County) Baptist Association voted 250-11 on Monday night to sever ties with McGill Baptist of Concord, N.C. See also this story.

I have a confession to make. In the last year or so when I read stories in the news or on the web, I've found myself reading them as if they were short stories of someone else's life in a far away land. It really doesn't matter what the subject matter is. It can be light hearted, or involve some war correspondent talking about all the dead bodies of Iraqi soldiers they encountered on their way to Baghdad. I just turn the page and on to the next story. I wonder if any one else is becoming numb to the constant barrage of "bad news" that it has become as common as everyday life?

One story came to mind today. It only came to my attention because most stories just tell the facts or high points of a story without getting into the gritty details of it. On May 11, 2002 in Cairo, Egypt, 52 men were arrested of "practicing debauchery", a section of the country's penal code that is rooted in Islamic law and has been used to prosecute gay Egyptians. Many of them are in prison now for up to three years.

This evening I read that last Thursday 14 more men were sentenced. Of the 14, three will remain in jail for three years, eight for two years, and three for one year. Two defendants were acquitted. To me, it was just another story of the way the world is. Then I read a story in The Advocate written by the lover (who is an American) of an Egyptian man who is in prison for being gay. The story vividly described the conditions. I read with interest as I sat on my deck in my peaceful little part of the world sipping a glass of Chardonnay. It occurred to me how black and white my world had become and, how much different his life is from mine. I could try to describe the conditions, but I think the writer did a good job:

"For four months a dank Cairo cell measuring just 8 by 14 feet has been home to Wissam Toufic Abyad, 26. The only daylight he gets comes through a small window so near the ceiling that it's impossible to see out. The concrete cell has no running water and no toilet. Abyad is given a plastic bowl to defecate in. He and his five cell mates urinate in a small bathtub that has no drain. The men pay two cigarettes a day to the prisoner on cleanup duty to wash away as much stench as a single bucket of water can."

I can't even imagine what that must be like. We in the United States bitch and moan about one thing or another. If it's not the relationship we are in, it's about the lousy job we have. Even those who have jobs complain, when they are lucky to even have a job. Everything is relative, I suppose. The human animal is good at adapting to the surroundings. Perhaps if we were put in that same cell for a day or two, we would come away with a fresh outlook on life. You think?

I came across this on the internet and was very touched by it. I think it adds a bit more of the human side of this war we are in. I'd like to share a letter from Army Staff Sgt. Lincoln D. Hollinsaid to his father. He was killed on April 7, 2003 when a crane he was driving was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. He was 27 years old and lived in Malden, Illinois.

There is something to be said about sandstorms, they can put you on the edge. Can't see, can't breath, sand gets everywhere. It sure does piss off my boys, I try to remind them it's all for the story and the glory, but that only goes so far. ..... I still ain't heard from Adam & Kim, tell them I am going to start sending them threat mail if they don't write. I wish my truck and boat knew how to write, I sure do miss them. Today would be a beautiful fishing day; I can see it now, drop my electronic anchors, kick my feet up on a fully stocked & iced beer chest, good cigar in my mouth, and 3 poles out with hooks in search for that elusive yet lovable catfish. ..... Well, Pop, not much else to say on paper

Lincoln

P.S. Would someone start this damn war!

We've worked on yard work all day long and we are both feeling the effects of it. We did get a lot done though. I took before and after pictures of everything we did. I will post them, assuming I ever get enough energy. Certainly not tonight. After a shower and dinner, I'm TV bound for the night - just me and my glass of fine burgundy wine.

It was a great weekend. Actually, it was better than that. It was perfect! After our workout and rest Saturday afternoon, we went to dinner with some friends at Costa del Sol in Hartford, CT. It's Spanish cuisine, and really excellent. We got there at 5:30, had a leisurely supper, and then went to the Bushnell to see the opera (Madame Butterfly). Strangely enough, I was able to keep my composure this time. It was a good performance.

Ok... enough for tonight... I'm going to chill in front of my TV and read this story in The Advocate about young Thomas McLaughlin, the 14 year old student who has had enough homophobia and is fighting back. I may have to add him to my heroes list. :-)

It's turning into a beautiful day here. We just got home from breakfast. I wanted to blog for a bit and see what was going on in the world. Afterwards, I will spend my day doing a bit of yard work.

I've spent some time discussing my views on politics in general and, of late, Senator Santorum's views that came out last week. One thing I've rarely talked about is children, and the world they live in. I know... you are probably wondering how a gay political site such as this would even be concerned with children. Well, I used to be one myself, and I know very well the difficulties associated with being a gay kid. But today, things are a bit different in big ways. In my childhood, there was very little you could do to stop harassment and bigoted views of what you are. Today, kids are speaking out more and demanding that their rights be respected. You see more law suits in the news where kids as young as 12 years old are standing up and saying "I have rights here and what you are doing to me is wrong!". I am humbled by the courage these young people show and, I'm extremely proud of them. Let's look briefly at some of the cases that are either pending or settled in court.

Students detail anti-gay harassment incidents. The allegations behind six former Morgan Hill School District students suing the district for failing to protect them from anti-gay harassment are varied and occurred between 1991 and 1998, according to Tuesday’s published opinion of Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge, Mary M. Schroeder.

Boyd gay-rights club to meet again - School district ponders appeal of ruling against ban. CANNONSBURG, Ky. -- A Boyd County High School gayrights group plans to meet tomorrow -- its first gathering since December when the school board banned such club meetings. School officials said they'll comply with the preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning to allow the Gay-Straight Alliance to meet, but the Boyd County school board hasn't decided whether to appeal.

Reno school authorities agreed Tuesday to a wide-ranging settlement of a gay rights lawsuit, instituting a stringent anti-harassment policy and paying $451,000 to a gay youth who was driven from local schools.

14 Year Old Gay Student Sues Arkansas School Board. (Little Rock, Arkansas) The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in federal court today against the Pulaski County Special School District for its treatment of an openly gay 14-year-old student. The lawsuit contends that school officials violated Thomas McLaughlin’s rights to free speech, equal protection, and privacy, and that they violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment by preaching to him and forcing him read the Bible as punishment.

There are many more - these are just a few of the stories. The important point is that these kids now understand that they have a legal avenue to pursue. That's very important. One could say that option was always there, and you would be right. However, what hasn't always been there is the willingness of legal authorities to take issues of gay rights seriously. Historically, we are talking about times past when it was "ok" and "acceptable" to raid gay bars, just for the sake of harassment - harassment against law-abiding citizens who happened to be disliked by society. For that, law enforcement officials were more than willing to turn an eye away from what was legally right and what they could get away with. There have been murders in the past of gay citizens that were totally ignored by law enforcement officials. Not so long ago in Maine, there was a case where a young gay man was thrown from a bridge by three of his straight peers. Unfortunately, he was thrown from the bridge into a canal with water and couldn't swim. He screamed for help and his assailants drove away ignoring his screams. They were caught and the toughest sentence they received was twelve (12) years in jail! Think about that. Serving twelve years for premeditated murder of another human being. Is it any wonder why the gay community was worried that the crime on Matthew Shepard would be prosecuted fairly, given the conservative area of the nation the crime took place in? True to form, in the very early stages of the Matthew Shepard crime, it came out that the defense attorneys were going to try to get any sentence imposed on their clients reduced because the victim was gay. They outwardly stated that the victim was gay, so who was going to be too hard on the boys who did this? It backfired and to this day, I must admit that I'm a bit surprised that the two boys who did that horrible crime to Matthew now face two life sentences in prison. I suppose I'm more cynical than most. I expected them to get a slap on the wrist and a tough lecture on why it just was "bad form" to beat a gay person to death. This is exactly why "hate crime legislation" as well call it today is such a big an issue. People see the gay community trying to get hate crime legislation passed, because we have seen first hand the bigotry in the legal system over the years.

Aside from this, I'd like to talk a bit about the 14 year old boy who is suing the Arkansas School Board. His name is Thomas McLaughlin. He has been targeted for harassment. "All I want out of this is for me and other gay students to be able to go to school without being preached to and without being expected to lie about who we are," said Thomas McLaughlin. The lawsuit contends that school officials violated Thomas McLaughlin’s rights to free speech, equal protection, and privacy, and that they violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment by preaching to him and forcing him to read the Bible as punishment. In addition, he was forced to listen to anti-gay preaching and censor his speech, all for the crime of mentioning that he was gay during school hours. According to the school district, McLaughlin's "discussions outside of class time disrupted the learning process," and it was appropriate to discipline him. Not only did the school district attempt to restrict his speech by means of religious punishment and lectures, school officials actually called McLaughlin's mother last year to let her know that her son was gay. She was understanding, but the school officials continued to harass her son.

Can you imagine the courage this young man must have to pursue this. I'm sure many of us would rather take our lumps just to get through it. Today, we see youth who are courageous and willing to stand up for the rights that our Constitution grants them. It's taken me a long time to get to that point. Today, if someone calls me a "faggot", I will confront them about it because, although they are entitled to their opinion, I am also entitled to make them accountable for what that did to me as a person. If it hurt, they are going to know about it in no uncertain terms, because they don't have the right to do that. It's taken me half my life to get to the point where I'm not like a deer paralyzed by fear in front of headlights. I am in awe of these kids, and I envy them.

We had a great workout at the gym. I was actually able to maintain a 45 minute workout on the elliptical trainer, which was pretty good for me. Now if I can just repeat it tomorrow. If the weather is nice, we will probably do yard work instead. There are a few articles that I'd like to point out and comment on.....

Senator's anti-gay remarks may cost him his seat. WASHINGTON - For all the uproar over Sen. Rick Santorum's remarks comparing gay relations to incest, his leadership post in the Senate appears secure for now. Even the handful of moderate Republicans who denounced his comments have stopped short of calling for Santorum to step down as Senate Republican Conference chairman, a post that gives him outsized impact on the Senate agenda. But that doesn't mean Santorum is home free. Far from it. Santorum said he was not planning on doing anything special to mend fences with the gay community, other than maintain an open-door policy. He said he had pushed for several items in Congress on behalf of gay interests, including fighting for federal funds for HIV treatment in Africa.
Ok, let's stop right here! Since when is federal funding for HIV treatment in Africa a gay issue? This guy just doesn't get it. The AIDS epidemic in Africa should be a humanitarian issue first and foremost. AIDS has existed in Africa long before it was ever an issue in the United States. Now that AIDS is in the United States, it is now a gay issue? Apparently this Senator is not in tuned with the current facts on this disease. Anyone can get this disease. It is not a gay issue and to continue to believe that will risk the lives of others, namely children and teenagers who will think that it doesn't pertain to them. His comments on trying to appease the gay community by funding HIV treatment in Africa is nothing short of a joke. For the full interview with Senator Santorum, I've posted it here.

Slept 12 hours!!! I'm going to be good today. I was planning on going to Monet's Table this morning for my usual morning brunch, but decided to skip it. We are going to the gym in a few minutes which will be followed by a nutritional shake. I'm trying to get in better shape for my vacation. Boy, it's hard being good!! Wait, that sounded like something you'd hear on Sex in the City. Tonight, we have tickets to the opera and will see Puccini's Madame Butterfly with some friends. We are off to the gym. Have a great day!

It's the end of what has been a very stressful week for me, and I'm glad to finally see the weekend. The motivation to get out of bed and go to work is more difficult these days. I go in, and everyone is down about one thing or another. I try not to let it get me down, so I concentrate on my work and the task at hand.

I've been going to the gym more. I'm trying to get in half-way decent shape before my trip to the Virgin Islands in a month. I think I will have a blast and I'm starting to get excited about the idea of getting away for awhile. I plan to do a lot of site seeing and taking many pictures - many of which will undoubtedly end up on this web site. I'll probably explore some on my own, but will also take some tours. I'm still doing research on that. This is the first long vacation that I will be taking by myself. Kent will be in Idaho during my trip. I plan to get lots of rest, do only touristy things, and go explore some of the night life on the islands.

Three Bush judicial nominees attacked on gay record. Less than one month after winning Senate confirmation for a federal appeals court judge who compared homosexuality to cockfighting and bestiality, President Bush has nominated three more judges whose views are being criticized by watchdogs as anti-gay.

Bush Defends Senator Over Anti-Gay Remarks. President Bush has come to the defense of a Republican senator who is under fire for his comments about homosexuality. A spokesman for Mr. Bush says the president has confidence in Senator Rick Santorum, calling him an inclusive man and a good senator.
I suppose this is an example of our President's "compassionate conservatism" at work? The more I get to know this President, the less I trust him. He says one thing, and then turns around and back paddles to appear moderate. If this is his idea of his party being "inclusive", I'd hate to see what they would consider discrimination.

Baptist Church threatens expulsion over gay baptism. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A local association of Baptist churches is considering expelling a Concord church for the baptism of two gay men. Rev. Steve Ayers of McGill Baptist Church said neither he nor his congregation believed it was appropriate to stop the men's baptism ceremony. A member of the Cabarrus Baptist Association said the group will consider withdrawing the church's membership Monday in a closed meeting.
Well... in my opinion, any soul who can go through the rigors of being gay in a Baptist church deserves anything they can get. I thought the message of Christ was love. I don't get it.

Bill To Ban Gay & Bi Foster Parents Moves Into Texas Committee. (Austin, Texas) A committee of the Texas legislature has begun hearings on a bill that would ban gays from adopting or becoming foster parents. The sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Robert Talton (R Pasadena) told the House State Affairs Committee that putting children in homes with gay or bisexual adults "is child abuse." Children are better off in orphanages than in the homes of lesbian, gay or bisexual foster parents, Talton told the committee, "I don't consider them to be parents," he said of gay and bisexual foster parents.

UN Gay Rights Vote Derailed. GENEVA -- A United Nations resolution that would have condemned the persecution of gay men and lesbians by member states was derailed at the last minute on Thursday by an alliance of disapproving Muslim countries. The UN had been due to vote on the matter for the first time in its 60-year history, but five Muslim countries postponed the vote and then began the coordinated introduction of amendments designed to kill it off. The amendments remove all references to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and render the resolution meaningless.

Alabama executes murderer of gay man. A man was executed by injection Thursday for the 1986 stabbing death of a 60-year-old gay man during a robbery. Gary Leon Brown, 44, was executed after Alabama governor Bob Riley denied him clemency on Wednesday. Brown made no final statement, though he appeared to mouth the words "Go with God" and "Forgive them" to his wife, Elizabeth Anne Brown, who was in the witness room with a friend. None of the victim's family attended the execution.

End Run Attempt On Florida Gay Rights. (Tallahassee, Florida) Conservative Republicans and right wing Christian groups in Florida have found a new way of attacking gay rights laws passed by local municipalities: Tack on amendments to bills before the legislature to override the local ordinances. The first attempt at sneaking through such an amendment came as a House committee was examining an otherwise benign civil rights bill.

"I have no problem with homosexuality - I have a problem with homosexual acts." It seems that every time some bigot leaves the political scene (such as Jesse Helms or Trent Lott), another one springs up to take his place. Don't get me wrong. I really have nothing personal against bigots per se'. After all, they have their constitutional rights to believe whatever they want. It is their right to believe that Jews should have been exterminated or that gays should be in prison, or... whatever. What I have a problem with is that individual becoming a United States Senator and using his elected power and influence to degrade and humiliate a segment of the United States population, because well... it's "popular" to do so. The Jews went through this, then the African Americans, now it's the gay people's turn I suppose. Well, I'd like to introduce to you Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania). This week, the Associated Press published an interview with Senator Santorum, the third-highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. Referring to a pending case involving sodomy laws, Santorum argued, "If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual gay sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery." It's sure a good feeling to be lumped in with bigamy, polygamy, and incest. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't add bestiality or wanting to get married to a goat.

So why is it that politicians can get away with saying awful things about gays when no other group would tolerate it? Can you imagine the uproar that would happen if a similar comment were made about Jews or blacks? The simple answer is, there are few political consequences to doing so. Senator Santorum knows exactly what he is doing. He is appeasing the religious right community at our expense. All we can do is bitch about it, write him letters that say "be nice", and hope to appeal to his sense of decency. The reason there isn't a political price to pay is demonstrated on the graph at the right. It represents a vote on if the senator should leave his position of leadership for comparing homosexuality to bigamy and incest. Almost 80% of all people who voted said NO! I'm not surprised. But this just points to why I've left behind the days of being a political activist. It's very discouraging when you want people to know that:
1) You are really just like everyone else in the world, just trying to make your way.
2) You agree that taxes are just too damn high.
3) When you get cut, you bleed just like everyone else.
4) Yes, we are also from the same planet.
5) No, I honestly don't have any desire to have sex with an animal.
6) We have feelings also. We are born, we live, we die, and many times out of ignorance from remarks such as those of Senator Santorum, we are beaten, berated, belittled, or killed.

The bottom line is that anyone in a position of power should view that awesome opportunity to bring people together. Unfortunately, Senator Santorum would rather use his position to polarize those who he feels are unpopular, all for more votes. Yes, I would say he's a true politician. Let Senator Santorum know how you feel about this.

Additional articles on this subject:
Salt Lake City Tribune, The Desert Sun, Slate, ABC News, The Guardian (UK), New York Post

There are a few other stories that caught my eye as I quickly scanned the internet. I thought they deserved mention.
Execution set for Alabama inmate in killing of gay man in robbery. Gary Leon Brown, known on Alabama's death row for his religious evangelism, had no court appeals pending to stop his execution Thursday for the stabbing death of a 60-year-old gay man who was nearly decapitated during a robbery. Prosecutors said the savageness of the attack indicated the killing may not have been simply a robbery, but it was not prosecuted as a hate crime against a gay victim. Some of the stab wounds were notched, showing that Brown actually twisted the knife when it was in the victim's body. The victim was stabbed 78 times.
Opponents vocal against gay rights. RALEIGH -Some lawmakers got more feedback than they wanted Wednesday when they considered a ban on firing state employees because they are gay and lesbian. One opponent at a public hearing said the proposal could serve as endorsement of bestiality, while another said gays and lesbians earn so much more than other workers that it's not possible they face discrimination.
Gay rights ordinance approved in Peoria. Peoria has joined a growing list of Illinois cities banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The city council voted 8-3 Tuesday to amend its human rights ordinance to protect gays and lesbians against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Board hears homosexual discrimination case. MSU's Anti-Discrimination Judicial Board heard comments Wednesday in a case involving former Mason Hall assistant director Carolyn O'Laughlin. O'Laughlin filed a grievance against Residence Life after officials said her domestic partner, Rebecca Linz, was not allowed to live in the residence hall.
U.S. can detain illegal immigrants indefinitely, Ashcroft rules. Illegal immigrants could be held indefinitely without bond if their cases present national security concerns, under a decision by Attorney General John Ashcroft. The order means aliens will not be released on bond while their cases are decided by immigration judges if the government can show national security issues are involved.
Student kills principal, himself in Pennsylvania. A 14-year-old student armed with three revolvers killed a junior high school principal Thursday morning in a cafeteria packed with teens and then killed himself, authorities said. Red Lion Area Junior High Principal Eugene Segro was pronounced dead at York Hospital, and the student died at the school, about 35 miles southeast of Harrisburg.

Ahhh how I've missed yard work. Today, among other ailments such as sore muscles and joints, my hands and arms are scratched up from the thorns of wild roses I was trying to clear up. I am also sporting two good sized blisters on my right hand. It serves me right for not taking the time to put on gloves.

I had this bright idea that I would take before and after photos of the yard work. Then at least, I would be able to see the results and compair. Hopefully, I would feel as though I had accomplished something. I start that as a project this year and see if it gives me inspiration. I was going to post the latest news, but it's too depressing.

An interesting day... I didn't go to work today (day off), but I ended up thinking a lot about work. That's probably not a good idea. I rested up a bit and ended up going to a movie this afternoon. I went to see Anger Management with Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson. It was ok, but I really thought that it would be funnier. I guess I was a bit disappointed.

Kent just came home to take a run. It's unbelievable weather out. It's 80 degrees now and by this time tomorrow will be 40 degrees. My trip to the Virgin Islands is all set. I'll be talking more about it as time goes on I'm sure.

Gay Union Ban Clears Texas Senate. AUSTIN, Tx. -- The Texas Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that bans state recognition of same-sex civil unions or marriages. A similar measure is headed for passage in the House after clearing a committee vote. Republican Sen. Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, the bill's chief sponsor, said it was necessary to prevent the state from recognizing Vermont-style civil unions and will nullify the state's constitutional obligation to recognize unions that are legal in other states. I wonder what they are so afraid of. I mean, it seems to me that marriage should be able to stand on it's own merits. Is it really that fragile? I'm honestly beginning to believe that all it really is is a big social club that certain members can belong to (heterosexuals only) and that you can get free prizes for participating (gifts at the wedding reception). And, don't forget those little bonus items (laws made just for the happy newlyweds to let everyone know that we approve of you). WHAT CRAP. It's not that I feel anything against people who are married. On the contrary, I'm very happy for them. Alright... I'll change the subject before I get started AGAIN....
Military Gay Linguist Firings Escalate. (Washington, D.C.) The number of linguists in the US military discharged because they are gay is growing despite a critical need for language specialists the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network today. In November the military fired nine linguists, trained in Arabic and Korean. Since then, the SLDN said in a statement, it has assisted an additional twenty-four linguists targeted under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Our military at work. Good job guys! Here's what I propose. I think that every single gay and lesbian person should come out and be discharged from the military. Think about it guys/gals. Why should we try to serve our country and risk our lives if they really don't want us? It makes no sense. Heck, I'm one gay who is willing to stay here and let the real men go get killed for me. Sound like a plan? Now watch. Someone will accuse me of being "unpatriotic". I'm not unpatriotic, I'm just fed up with the bullshit. There's a difference. Why risk your life if you will get discharged if you are found out (and they will eventually find out, because you will slip up)? What is the price tag of your own self respect? The military can take their don't ask, don't tell policy and shove it. For more on this, go to the Washington Post.
On a brighter note, Covington, Ohio is getting a gay rights law. Too bad that it's so watered down that it has no teeth to it. I guess it's the thought that counts.
For those techies out there who are managing networks, I thought this article was a bit interesting.

Later everyone. Kent's home and it's time to get something to eat!!

I'm actually taking the day off today for a bit of rest. My plan is to do a bit of gardening/yard work and to be outside as much as possible while the weather lasts. It's suppose to be around 80 degrees today but will be down in the 40's tomorrow. Gotta love that New England weather!

They say "what goes around comes around...". Well, that time has come for Palestinian terrorist Abu Abbas who masterminded the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro. He was captured (full story) by U.S. Special Forces outside Baghdad. Personally, I think he should have a separate trial for two reasons: 1) not using adequate skin moisturizer (just look at that face for cryin out loud!!!), and 2), where is the unkept mustache police? If he wants to look butch you gotta keep it trimmed! Can't have it both ways! Also, some gel in the hair (after shampooing!) would work wonders, although "bad hair" is not necessarily a something he could be convicted for under the Geneva Convention (section 5.3A, paragraph 8, sub-section H clearly says that in the event of "capture in war time", "unkept hair" is allowable). Unfortunately, it says nothing of mustache maintenance, which in my opinion, sucks.

On to less pressing issues of the day.....
It would seem that bombing people back to the stone age is the easy part of war. The more difficult task of rebuilding the country afterwards is the difficult part. This is especially try in a country where many of the residents of the country hate each other and are already complaining that one group or another is feeling left out of the formation of a new government. This is where the US could really mess things up if we aren't careful. This is where the damage of a bad government to replace the Hussein's rule could end up more oppressive than the former dictator's rule. Imagine a country in constant civil war. We like to say "let's leave them with a "democracy" where they can have "democratic elections". This is the same country that is so insane with it's own personal turmoils that it has looted it's own National Museum of Antiquities in Baghdad where over 170,000 artifacts were stolen or destroyed.

What we seem to forget is that democracy didn't come easy to us. Much blood was shed to get to where we are today. What makes us think that Iraq will be able to make the change? Their way of life and ours are as different as is possible on the planet. We are the same melting pot as they are. We too have people of all different races, creeds, etc. The difference is, we didn't get there overnight. Our melting pot of today was reached gradually enough to allow our laws of the land to catch up and treat people equally (well, for the most part) across the board. The mindset of Iraq isn't there, and we must realize that. We can hope for an election system of some sort where the people are in charge of their own destiny, whatever that may be. But, in the end, there will be little we can effect, and we will be gone. The United States doesn't have the best track record of establishing compassionate and long-lasting democratic governments.

Syria.... no friend of the United States of course and it should be of no surprise that they are helping Iraqi militants out. The administration has "made it clear" that we don't plan on going to war with Syria. According to Colin Powell, "There is no war plan right now to go attack someone else, either for the purpose of overthrowing their leadership or for the purpose of imposing democratic values". Does anyone actually believe this? We certainly have our crosshairs on Syria, and that is also the opinion of many other countries in the world. Just yesterday we moved to close a pipeline carrying Iraqi oil to Syria, a move that could cripple Syria's already weak economy. From a strategic point of view, it makes sense. We are there. We would have to reinforce our troops and move more supplies in, but I believe we are really gearing up for another war. If I were Syria, I would stay real low and quiet right now. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

It's nice at times to take a few moments and think about nice things. I know that sounds simple and trite, but I think it's all too easy in the world today to dwell on the bad without realizing the good. The good is there. It's always been there. Unfortunately, it's often overshadowed by negative influences in our lives. Lately, I have allowed negative forces to influence my life - my work life, my home life, everything. Many others either don't care anymore, or they are among the very lucky individuals who always seem to opt for the best scenarios, even if everything around them is negative. I am one who gravitates to the negative side. I know exactly why I do it. I've been conditioned that the worst will usually happen. Not only me, but my entire blood family is like that as well.

The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. A few days ago, a bill was defeated in committee that would have given gay couples some of the basic fundamental rights as married heterosexual couples enjoy (hospital visitation, inheritance, etc.). I was hoping that it would pass, but I told myself that it wouldn't because of past experiences. Sure enough, I was right.

A couple of days after that, Fred Phelps and his gang of bigots from the Westboro Church (yes the same church that runs the web site GodHatesFags.com) came to town. Everyone was up and arms about them coming to spread their message of hate to Connecticut. I honestly didn't care. It wasn't worthy of my time to join the protests against them. They are crazy. Anyone who would picket a funeral has some real issues. They even have the most conservative Christians in the country cringing at the hate that is coming out of their mouths. There's beauty in that I suppose. It's easy to get caught up in all of this. There will always be people in the world like Fred Phelps, Saddam Hussein, and Hitler. They all share the ability to hate and destroy anything of value.

On the other hand, I'm driving home one night and totally get lost in a small piece by Debussy. I found myself swept up in the beauty and innocence of the piece and was reminded for a brief time that we can just as easily embrace those gems of passion and joy instead of the dark values of others. I'm going to try to embrace joy and peace.

Texas Bans State From Recognizing Gay Unions - April 15, 2003. The Texas Senate gave preliminary approval Monday to a proposal to keep Texas from recognizing same-sex marriages or civil unions. The measure passed easily on an unrecorded voice vote, and final approval is expected Tuesday.
Judge says gay man can sue as 'spouse' of deceased partner - April 15, 2003. NEW YORK -- A Long Island judge, in an apparently unprecedented decision, has ruled that a gay man can file a wrongful death lawsuit as the "spouse" of another man who died a year ago after being mowed down by a hit-and-run driver in Manhattan.
My next camera (moderately priced at only $8,000!!!)
'Ex-Gay' Leader Steps Down. So-called "ex-gay" spokesman John Paulk said Monday he is stepping down from his leadership role in the Focus on the Family's campaign to "convert" gay people back to heterosexuality, sometimes referred to as "reparative therapy" – a process that has been denounced by both mainstream psychiatric associations and gay-rights activists.
New ISU course focuses on homosexual politics. The ISU politics and government department is offering a new class about homosexuality and politics for students registering for the fall semester. Jyl Josephson, politics and government associate professor and president of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays said the new course will inform the ISU students about the gay rights movement.

It's a beautiful day out today, nice and sunny and almost 50 degrees. Things are looking up a bit on the trip to the Virgin Islands in May. I will have a first class ticket both ways and the ticket is free due to frequent-flier miles! Can't beat that. So, the expenses will be my hotel stay and transportation. To get the tickets I wanted I will have to leave a day earlier than I expected (May 23rd instead of May 24th), but I won't argue with that. Now I just need to decide what I'm going to do with the time there. I figure that I will fly into St. Thomas and take a ferry over to St. John where I will stay for a few days. Then, I'll take a ferry down to St. Croix and spend 5 days there (it has more night life than St. John, but most of St. John is a national park that I want to see). On May 31st, I'll get a ferry back to St. Thomas and fly back to Connecticut the next day.

We are doing something with Brandy, Jeremy, and Nicholas this afternoon. We haven't decided what yet. We were going to have a cook-out, but it's a bit chilly for that, so we will probably end up going out to eat somewhere. Next weekend is full with yard work. Yes, we have it all scoped out and planned. The "yard work schedule" is under a magnet on the refrigerator (can you say anal retentive??). But, one must plan ahead.

Ok. I'm off to program my cell phone so it's at least functional and has the names of those I care about programmed in.

We went to Monet's Table this morning for a leisurely breakfast. Afterwards, I bought three more memory sticks for my camera. I'm getting ready for my trip to the Virgin Islands. I bought two travel books on the islands and have spent much of the day scoping out which islands I will go too and how long I will stay on each one. They sound really special. I'm not going to take a computer with me, so I'm hoping I'll have enough memory cards to take all the pictures I want. If not, I'll just have to go back again next year I suppose.

Around 5:30 we went out for sushi. It just sounded good tonight and was as good as always. That's all for now. I'm beat. Take care.

I didn't get my hopes up over this. I've been disappointed before, so I admit that I didn't spend a lot of time trying to get equal rights for married gay couples. Honestly I'm not sure what makes me more sad.... that the bill didn't pass, or that I've accepted that it will never be equal for people who are different. It's sad that people have to accept it and go on, and hope like hell that you are never in need of the legal protections that marriage provides. I know that someday it will effect me on a personal level, but for now, I can't let it bring me down. There are always going to be narrow minded bigots in the world who seem to get their way in the passing of laws. That's just the way it is. What choice is there but to live life and try to be as happy as one can. I know things could be a lot worse, but one would think that in a "free" country like America, we could at least be a bit more fair to minorities in this country and not be so blatantly discriminatory in law. All I can say is God help the hospital who refuses to allow me to see my mate in the event of an emergency. Enough said. To read the full story, click here.

I'm trying to finalize what I will be doing for vacation in May. Kent will be in Idaho, and I was thinking of taking a trip to Ogunquit, Maine. Now, I'm opting for the tropics. I've never been to the Virgin Islands, so I've got my eye on St. Croix. I might take in two islands, we'll see. I've got my eye on a place called The Cormorant Beach Club.

At Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where Barry Winchell was stationed until his death in 1999, Major General Robert Clark commanded that base, and created a climate so hostile to homosexuals that another soldier felt it within his right to beat Barry Winchell in the head with a baseball bat, killing him. Last year, gay and lesbian rights groups along with Winchell's family successfully petitioned the Senate Armed Forces Committee to prevent Clark from receiving his third star. Clark now commands the Fifth Army at Fort Sam Houston, and is up for promotion again. Since the murder, Major General Robert T. Clark has not commented to the media about the case, and declined to be interviewed for this story, citing the war on Iraq.

After earning his GED and learning a welding trade, in 1997, Barry Winchell, 21, joined the Army - like his stepfather Wally, his father, and brother did before him - planning to become a helicopter pilot. Yet besides being athletic, generous, and technically gifted, Barry Winchell might have been gay. And in the Army or any of the branches of the service, it's dangerous to be - or to be suspected of being gay. Barry had been in the Army less than two years when in the early morning of July 5, 1999, Private Calvin Glover, who had scuffled with Barry earlier that week, slammed a baseball bat into his head while Barry slept on his cot. Glover's accomplice, Army Specialist Justin Fisher, washed the blood off the bat. Suffering from irreversible brain damage, Barry died the next day in Vanderbilt Hospital after his parents removed him from life support. "He didn't tell us what was going on," Barry's mother says. "When he was in basic training, he used to say 'Suck up and drive on.' That replays in my head that's what I have to continue doing. He dealt with these things himself." Fisher and Glover, his attackers, believed Barry was gay because of an incident earlier that year; Barry had broken up with his fiance, and Fisher had taken him to Connections, a Nashville, Tennessee gay dance club. Barry befriended a pre-operative transsexual, and they often went out for coffee. "Barry was lonely," his mother says. "I don't think Barry was sure about his sexuality." Barry and his mother often talked late at night about sexuality. "He knew that the sexuality part - whatever he was, it didn't matter to us. We taught him not to be biased and it wouldn't have made any difference. We love our sons and want them to have whatever life they choose to have."

An homicide investigation led to Fisher and Glover, who were court-martialed; Glover received a 60-year sentence in military prison; Fisher cut a plea bargain with Major General Clark - unbeknownst to Barry's family - and received 12 years for lying in an investigation and providing alcohol to a minor. On the stand, in front of Barry's family, Fisher apologized, but added, "But after all, Barry's in a better place."

During the court-martial of Glover and Fisher, sworn testimony revealed that the anti-gay sentiment trickled from Clark to his subordinate commanding officers. Eight months before the murder, non-commissioned officers began an illegal investigation of Barry's sexuality, trying to determine if Barry frequented the gay bar, Connections. One of those officers later improperly asked Barry if he were gay. At least one non-commissioned officer heard Barry receive a death threat - but did nothing; other soldiers, including his company first sergeant, called him "that little faggot;" another private asked Barry in front of their section leader if he was a "faggot," inquiring, "Do you take it in the ass or mouth?" When two sergeants eventually complained to the company commander, Captain Daniel Rouse, about the harassment, Rouse ignored them. The sergeants also helped Barry file an Inspector General complaint. The IG refused to act on it.

After Barry's murder, an Army Inspector General investigated the climate at Fort Campbell, and according to a task force report, found that, among other examples, "gay joking and bantering occurred among soldiers on a regular basis," and "anti-gay cadences occurred during physical training runs." Anti-gay graffiti was sprayed on public walls: a drawing of a baseball bat with "fag whacker" written on it, and the words, "all faggots in the Army will be killed." The report also revealed that there was no "don't ask, don't tell" training at Fort Campbell, and most officers and soldiers didn't understand the policy. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a legal and policy organization for gay and lesbian veterans and servicepersons, at the time of Barry's death, Clark had never written a policy letter nor issued any public statements regarding harassment of gay soldiers - a requirement of the "don't ask, don't tell" guidelines.

The hatred continued. Two months after the murder, a Staff Sergeant led a unit of soldiers on a training run, singing the cadences, "Faggot, faggot down the street. Shoot him, shoot him 'til he retreats." General Clark was in charge of the base and he allowed the atmosphere to exist. Although "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been in effect for 10 years, many soldiers are outed in the service. Other people who make comments notice the person isn't dating or don't talk about their personal lives. Sometimes those comments make it to the command level. They're not allowed to ask, but often they still do, or they'll conduct a criminal investigation, find one individual and grill that person to identify others who are gay or lesbian.

Gay and lesbian soldiers have been subject to a dual standard, particularly in the first Gulf War. They were supposed to be discharged because of their sexuality, but they were ordered to the Gulf and they were told, "If you survive, then you'll be discharged." Those who are discharged because of being gay or lesbian often endure discrimination in the job market, because the reason for their exit is listed on the long form of their discharge papers - which many potential employers require as part of the hiring process.

We just got home from breakfast. There weren't too many out yet. I think a lot of people are just not adjusted to the time change yet. There are a few stories in the news that I'd like to tell you all about:

Gay Marine Refuses to Fight. This is the story of a young marine named Stephen Funk. He is claiming conscientious objector status because he doesn't believe in war. That's fair enough, although why did he ever join the Marines in the first place since their mission is to fight and win at war? While he prepare his application for conscientious objector status, he was AWOL for over a month. He finally turned himself in to military authorities in San Jose, California. Funk said in his application, "My moral development has also been largely effected by the fact that I'm homosexual. I believe that as a gay man, someone who is misunderstood by much of the general population, I have a great deal of experience with hatred and oppression. When someone is thrust into a situation of hate and oppression because of factors they have no control over, I believe they either react with hatred back, because they've experienced it, or they learn not to be that way towards others. I have adopted the latter reaction and stand with the oppressed people of the world who know that hate and oppression do not solve any problems."

I'm trying to understand why this story bothers me. I think it is because I'm wondering if Mr. Funk is really wanting out of the Marines because he's a conscientious objector, or is he also using being gay to achieve the same goals? They are very different. Being a conscientious objector means that morally you do not believe in killing and war, and therefore choose not to contribute to all the things that come from war. In other words, you are choosing to leave the military (or at least take a desk job) while we are at war. In claiming on top of that that you are a homosexual violates "don't ask, don't tell" and is like putting the nail in the coffin as far as the military is concerned. What bothers me is him using the fact that he's a gay man and telling the military that for reasons of getting out of the military. It seems to me to be a slap in the face of all the military people who are trying to be closeted and in the military (which I disagree with), and do a good job hoping that no one will discover their little secret.

On the other hand, the military has put into place this moronic "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" policy. Everyone knows that they do indeed pursue and ask questions that they should not be asking. If you are perceived to be gay, you will be mistreated in such a way as to try and make you complain to your supervisor, which may in turn lead to an investigation against you. Of course, since we are now at war, it's no surprise to me that the military is looking the other way on people who admit they are gay. It's ok in times of war to continue to risk your life on the battlefield if you are gay, but when the war is over, you are out, AND THAT'S WRONG! If you are good enough to risk your life on the battlefield and have them forget for just a bit that you are gay, you are good enough to serve openly in the military. All other rules should apply equally to all military personnel. If straight men are so insecure as to worry about a few gay guys showering with them (like they have something I haven't seen before), we are in a heap of trouble. Think about it. Someone who has no problem killing another human being but gets all worked up over some other guy looking at his pee pee.... what's wrong with this picture?!? By the way, to the Marines... I'm still willing to go help out!! You never returned my #$%^(*& phone call!!!
Gay rights law fails to pass in Nashville. I know, big surprise here. I didn't even know they had gay people in Nashville. Maybe I'll go there for vacation sometime when I'm really desperate for punishment.
Gay Marriage Ban Closer To Vote in Texas. Hummmmm, and I would have thought that Texas would be the first state in the nation to legalize full marriage between gay people - go figure. Legislation that would prohibit Texas from recognizing civil unions or marriages between people of the same sex has been approved by a key Senate committee. The endorsement by the Senate State Affairs Committee moves the bill closer to a full vote on the Senate floor. "The point of the bill is to protect and defend the institution of marriage in the traditional sense we always have in the state of Texas, and that's between one man and one woman," said its sponsor, Sen. Jeff Wentworth. Well, I agree. With over 50% of all marriages today ending in divorce, we certainly don't need to add gay marriages to that. I can see where making it legal for gays to marry would threaten and undermine the great institution of marriage (SARCASM).
Proposal to prevent gay couples from adopting. Again, a story from Texas. So much for "southern hospitality"!
Gay-Rights Group Opposes Ft. Sam Houston General's Promotion. Members of the American Veterans for Equal Rights, which is meeting in the city through Saturday, contend that Maj. Gen. Robert T. Clark bears some responsibility for a 1999 hate crime at Fort Campbell, Ky. The San Antonio native was the post commander there when Pfc. Barry Winchell, 21, was beaten to death in his sleep by a drunken soldier on July 5, 1999.

Gosh it feels good to have time to write once again, even though no one reads this stuff.

I'm finally back. A few things have happened in my life that prompted me to leave for awhile. Work has been very intense. I can't really go into the reasons (confidentiality and all that...), but I'm just glad it's all behind me now. With things at work the way they are, this kind of took a back seat to my journal.

Other than that, life has been going pretty well. I've noticed that my priorities have changed a bit. There was a time when having my website offline would have freaked me out, but now, it's just one more thing to deal with in life, and it has moved in priority from being one of the items at the top of my list to being down a few. By the end of this week, I should be up and running again.

I'm toying with the idea of taking my first cruise. Unfortunately, it would be at a time that Kent is away at a conference, and I really wanted to go together. It would be a New York Summer Cruise from Atlantis Vacations. It's an all-gay cruise, which reminds me about that stupid movie out called Boat Trip. The movie has every cliche' and stereotype in the book about gay people. I went to the movie and walked out in disgust half way through it. I'm so sick and tired of my community being the brunt of jokes to people who think it's funny to laugh at the last minority group that can still be kicked while still on the ground. The movie takes a lot of cheap shots and in the middle of the move I said to myself "you know what... I'm better than this. The people laughing at people like me are just homophobic idiots who are so miserable in their personal lives that the only way they can feel good about themselves is to make others feel less than they are." So, I walked out. Hollywood just doesn't get it. Or, maybe they do get it and don't give a damn. There are a lot of people out there in a lot of pain (I'm one of them, at times), who are just doing the best they can to get through life and maybe once in awhile, actually find themselves enjoying it. It shouldn't have to be that way. For example, I'm all for societal diversity (like I have a choice being part of a despised minority), but I think it's really a very sad statement that I'm choosing a gay cruise instead of just a cruise to take my vacation on. I want my vacation to be a happy time where I can just relax and enjoy myself without others looking at me and saying "look at the faggot over there" or worse, getting into a fight. It's not that I'm a wuss, but one incident like that would ruin my whole vacation. So, I tend to stay with my "own kind". I wonder if I will live long enough to see that my "own kind" is all of us? I don't hold out much hope. I just hope that the gay people born in 100 years from now (if they haven't exterminated gay people through genetic engineering) will not have to go through what we have had to go through with family and society.

The night is starting to break now and it's the beginning of sunrise. I realize that the clock has sprung forward one hour and my clock now says 6:06am which makes me feel a bit better about not being able to sleep so early. Kent will probably wake up soon and we'll go out for an early breakfast somewhere.

I ordered some mulch to be delivered. It came yesterday. Why is that important you ask... Well, it's more symbolic than anything else I suppose. It marks the beginning of spring for us. As he delivered the mulch, I was sound asleep in bed, and Kent was outside directing him where to pile it. It was raining sleet, indicating that spring was ready to give up just yet. Then the rain came during the day, followed by heavy fog last night. I will have to put off any gardening until next week I suppose. This year is different though. In past years, I have hurried and pushed myself to get everything done within two weeks. This year, I'm going to spread it out over time. If it takes me a month to get it done, that will be fine. I'm going to do a little each weekend and not over do it. If you work all weekend long on it and are exhausted by the end of the weekend, it's no longer fun. It's become work. So, I figure that I'll do a flower bed one weekend, and do something else the next weekend, with my goal to have it completed by the first of June.