Locker Room Talk

Most of you know how the “macho” guys in the locker room talk. In my opinion, it’s mostly hot air, without any substance. I call it “testosterone talk”.

Last night, I go to the gym. I’m undressing from my work clothes into my workout clothes in preparation for what I hope will be a good workout.

While I am getting dressed, these two guys are talking in the locker room. They are both older gentlemen (in their mid-60’s I would say). They are talking about some guy who came out as “deep throat” who turned out to be Mark Felt, a 91-year-old retired FBI official. He was, along with others, responsible for leaking information to the press that eventually lead to President Nixon leaving office in disgrace.

One of the men in the locker room suggested that perhaps the guy worked with J. Edgar Hoover and probably even cross-dressed for Hoover, who was allegedly “in to” such things.

Then the guy said, “Well, they are everywhere these days ya know. Hell they can even get married now in Connecticut.” (much “good ole boy” laughter).

I got up and walked over to the guy and got up in his face, and said, “I am THEY. I am one of THOSE. And for the record, THEY will not be able to get married in Connecticut. THEY will only be able to get a civil union. And some of THEY, such as myself, has been with someone for 30 years, so THEY feel that just maybe THEY have paid their dues by having to put up with stupid remarks from PEOPLE LIKE YOU! I am the face of THEY.”

I was fully dressed by then. I grabbed my water bottle, thoroughly pissed off with adrenaline surging through my veins at this point, and walked out of the locker room, leaving the locker room quiet with everyone’s mouths dropped open.

But boy did I have a good workout - burned 550 calories baby!!

You know, I used to be more tolerant. I used to say that, “They just don’t understand because they don’t know anyone who is gay. If they did, they would see us as human.”

Now, I say, “I’m tired of your bullshit. I’ve lived my whole entire life waiting for you to understand and throw just a little bit of compassion and understanding my way. Instead, you are still beating people like me up, giving us second-class citizenship, and, in some cases, killing us. I’m tired of your bullshit and I’m really tired of you. The world will be a better place when you just die already and make room for someone who is decent.”

That’s honestly how I feel. I’m tired of waiting. It’s my time to be happy, and I shouldn’t have to deal with morons in my health club.

After all of that, we went to vote on the town budget, which failed...

June 1, 2005

COVENTRY -- Voters once again Tuesday rejected a proposed town budget, this time turning down a spending plan that would have raised taxes by 6 percent.

Voters did, however, approve the other referendum question on the ballot, endorsing a request for $2.5 million more to finish the sewer installation around Coventry Lake, by a vote of 1,469 to 1,001.

The town wanted authorization to increase the cost of the sewer project from $11.52 million to $14 million. The extra money will not affect town property taxes. Instead, the town plans to pay for the spending increase through federal and state grants as well as sewer assessments for properties that will benefit from the new sewers.

Voters rejected the town budget proposal by a 1,473 to 1,027 vote. The vote sends the $30.9 million budget back to the town council. Town council Chairman James Clark, who was present for the final count, said the council will likely meet Thursday to take the next steps.

Clark, who typically waits for the final votes to be tallied at town hall for every referendum, said he was disappointed by the outcome.

“They do not want to see their taxes increased,” he said. “You can put any spin on it, but it is an erroneous belief that you can put any number of cuts in the budget and still maintain services.” (source)

I don’t care either. I voted for the budget because I vote for the education of their children. But, I don’t have children of my own. I suppose, if they don’t care about their children’s education, why should I?

Oh, and Connecticut just passed a stem-cell research bill:

The House of Representatives gave overwhelming final approval Tuesday night to legislation committing $100 million to stem cell research in Connecticut.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell pledged to sign the bill and make Connecticut the third state to finance embryonic research opposed by President Bush and the Catholic Church. (source)