Just More Complaining From Bill...

This is really some scary stuff. I have to wonder when the LGBT community is going to “get it” that we’re seriously under attack. These things will affect us. And it’s not just those living in states where these laws are the worst. Anyone in any state right now is a target, and if we think that we’re safe in one state and not the other then we’re already losing.

Bill, keep complaining!

That was a comment left by DJ, a regular on this site. Thanks DJ for the comment and the encouragement. Honestly, I appreciate it!

At the risk of sounding negative... oh hell with it, this is going to sound negative, so I might as well stop pretending and stop trying to sugar-coat it. This all started a few weeks ago when “Dan”, a regular on this site, made a comment on one of my entries that said, “You are such a complainer Bill!” That really hit me hard, since he is a gay man. I guess that’s when I threw my arms up in the air and said, “To hell with it.”

I don’t post so much anymore. Why? Because nothing I say here matters. NOTHING. These are only my ideas.

We live in a country where our community is disposable. Our political leaders care only about our community in terms of how many votes they can get by scaring the shit out of voters because the fags are going to “destroy the sanctity of marriage”. What sanctity are they fighting for? Every single married couple I know with the exception of one, has divorced. Most all the heterosexuals I know who have been married are now on their third and fourth marriage. What the hell are they trying to protect, and who the hell are they trying to fool?

We live in a country where the Constitution of the United States is enforced when it serves the purpose of THE MAJORITY. My friends, if we are being totally honest here, most of the people in this country HATE US. Most won’t admit it. The will say they are “Christian people” and that they “do not hate”. They show it in other ways, more subtle ways - AT THE BALLOT BOX.

We live in a country where a small fraction even go to the ballot box. A great many of those people who say they support equal rights for our community never take the time to go to the ballot box to show that support in the form of a vote.

We live in a country where AIDS is still a “gay disease”. That’s very convenient because it’s not an issue they feel needs to be addressed. And those gay kids, you know... the ones we keep hearing about who are now getting AIDS left and right because they aren’t being safe... they are DISPOSABLE. No one cares - not even our own community. So why they hell should gay kids give a damn?

We live in a country where it’s still fully legal to fire someone because they are gay, in 36 states. A bill has been proposed in Congress... for the last 20 or so years to make it illegal to fire a person solely on the grounds of his or her sexual orientation. It’s never come close to passing. No one cares. The same can be said for a national hate crime law that would add “sexual orientation” to the national hate crimes law that is already in place. But Congress has repeatedly voted it down specifically because gays would be protected.

We live in a country where we are at war. Yet, the military is still discharging gay service members left and right for being gay. Many of those were ASKED - a violation of “Don’t ASK, Don’t Tell”. But they are discharged anyway. Why? Because no one cares. Even though many of these people are highly trained and speak Arabic, it’s more important to get rid of them because they are gay and might make some sexually insecure service men feel uncomfortable being around them. It would effect “unit cohesion”, we are told. If you honestly believe that bullshit, I have an ocean front property to sell you in Nebraska.

We live in a country where, on average, ten gay people are beaten to a pulp or killed every single day in this country, and it is never reported. These statistics are not kept because our federal government does not see us as needing protection. Hate crime statistics are kept on all other minority groups in this country, except for gays. I know, hard to believe, isn’t it?

We live in a country who, aside from the war in Iraq, will have two other big concerns in November’s elections - a ban on gay marriage in more state constitutions AND a ban on gay adoptions in various states. Apparently it is better to keep children in institutions rather than allow gay households become foster parents or adoptive parents. And often, it is disabled or disadvantaged children (you know, they ones no one else will take) who have special needs, that gay couples will take and care for. I still remember a story of an African American boy who was born HIV positive because his mother was a drug user. He was adopted by two men who cared for him and paid for his medical needs. When the boy turned 12 years old, he became zero positive. His body was able to eradicate the disease completely from his body. What should have been a time of joy became one of hardship. The state they lived in immediately started proceedings to take the child away from the only parents he ever knew because now, he was “desirable” and was “placeable” - just not with a gay couple. But who cares? Honestly, I would think that gas prices, the cost of heating fuel, the environment, and taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves would rank higher on the list than gay marriage or gay adoptions, but apparently not. Rest assured, when November comes, gay marriage and gay adoption will be higher on the list than those other concerns. And the American people will buy it hook, line, and sinker. I would bet money on it.

We live in a country where our own community doesn’t care about all of this discrimination. I’ve talked until I’m blue in the face on this site about how we should boycott states who pass these hateful amendments. I’ve also said that if I lived in a state such as Virginia or Texas, I would move because I didn’t want to live where I’m unwanted and I especially don’t want to support bigotry by paying state taxes to a state that openly discriminates. Yet, within my own community, I’m told, “...if we leave who will stay to fight...”, along with, “...you need to get a grip and deal...”. Wisconsin (the link) doesn’t have to worry about a boycott because we in the gay community don’t care if we are discriminated against. They can do as they wish and there will be no repercussions from this.

We live in a country where the Catholic Church and the Pope can say how we are “intrinsically disordered”, and we put up with it. They can turn around and blame all the child abuse within their church on gay priests, and we put up with it. Why? BECAUSE WE DON’T GIVE A DAMN!

We live in a country where we are told that there is always a shortage of blood. Gay men are barred for life from giving blood, unless you can honestly say that you’ve never been with a man since 1977. All blood today is testing rigorously. There is no justification for this life time ban. Yet, we do nothing about it. Why? Because we don’t care.

We live in a country where a majority of voters can go to the ballot box and vote away the rights of a minority they don’t like. So much for equal treatment under the law. So much for the 14th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. So much for fairness.

Finally, this.....

Despite the constant persecution that rains downs upon my gay friends every day, most of them take the high road and continue to be compassionate and not bitter. (source)

I used to try to take the “high road”. But, there are limits. People who know me know that I am one of the most generous people they have ever met. I don’t support the war in Iraq, yet, I have supported our troops. And unlike most Americans who have only spoken words of support, I have spent my own money supporting them by buying phone cards for soldiers who cannot afford them, so they can call home ON MY DIME. All the while knowing that if they knew I was gay, they would hate me for being gay. Well, I ended that program yesterday and terminated the phone cards (more money for me, right?). Why? Because, I don’t care, just like everyone else.

I used to be bitter about all of this, but I’ve come to the conclusion that being bitter and caring are really just a waste of my time. That’s not to say I don’t care. It’s saying that I have become very particular and narrowly focused on WHAT I care about. So what do I care about?

I care first and foremost about my family and the home-life I’ve made with them.

I care about my friends. I have few, and that’s fine with me.

Other than that, I really don’t care if different countries want to blow the hell out of each other because they can’t talk out their differences. Why? Because my country and my country’s government doesn’t care. So honestly, why should I?

I care about my little world. Right now, I’m fine. If things start to effect that world, we will consider moving.

I’m sorry for caring less and less about this, but if so few in my community cares, and if my country doesn’t care about these issues and only cares about it’s own political interest with equality and fairness aside, why should I care?

“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” - J.F. Kennedy

Well, I’m sorry President Kennedy, but today, I am asking my country to do something for me and my community. I want my country to treat us with a bit of dignity and respect. I want EQUALITY and FAIRNESS. I have a right to expect that, according to the Constitution, even if.... no one cares.

Until that happens, I DON’T CARE.

Ok... I’m done complaining now.

Yesterday, I made lasagna. Kent came home from a weekend trip and I wanted to make something that he likes. Oh, and I took more photos. More photos coming soon.