General: February 2006 Archives

Research into the genetics of sexual orientation is controversial. Religious leaders who believe that sexual orientation is a choice argue that such research is an attempt to legitimize homosexuality; others worry that a detailed knowledge of the genetics underlying homosexuality will open the door to genetic engineering that prevents it.

But Bocklandt doesn’t think these concerns should prevent scientists from asking the basic question of whether homosexuality has an underlying genetic component to it or not.

“I have no doubt that at some point we’ll be able to manipulate all sorts of aspects of our personality and physical appearance,” Bocklandt said. “I think if there’s ever a time when we can make these changes for sexual orientation, then we will also be able to do it for intelligence or musical skills or certain physical characteristics — but whether or not these things are allowed to happen is something that society as a whole has to decide. It’s not a scientific question.” (source)

With all the issues we are facing with marriage and now adoption (16 states are looking at outlawing adoption for same-sex couples), I have to believe that, if they do eventually isolate the sequencing that makes someone a homosexual, we will be no more.

It’s a sobering thought to ponder that if I were being examined after conception and they found my genetic makeup to be homosexual, I would have been aborted. But then again, I guess I wouldn’t know about the life that was taken from me, would I?

On a personal level, I cannot stand Hillary Clinton - never could. There’s an arrogance about her (yes, I feel the same way about Bill Clinton). I always felt that she was (is) a complete opportunist. I guess they call that a “politician” these days. I can accept that.

What I cannot accept is the notion that she wants my money and in return, will support civil unions for me and my partner. Hillary, tell you what... If you will give up the “sanctity of marriage” that you seem to think you have with Bill, for a civil union.... naw, you still wouldn’t get my support (or vote).

You can take the notion of giving me second-class status out of the goodness of your heart, and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. I will not vote for anyone who does not support full marriage equality for my family. I will settle for no less. And I’d like to just remind everyone that it was Hillary’s husband, Bill Clinton who signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law - an act that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. And we consider their ilk our friends?

With that in mind, I can’t wait for the “Hillary for President” people to call me for a donation!

In an email to his board members obtained by The Politicker, the head of New York State’s leading gay rights group describes Hillary Clinton as a “disappointment” on same-sex marriage, and suggests gays and lesbians stop giving money to her campaign.

In the February 10 email, marked “confidential,” Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the influential, well-funded Empire State Pride Agenda, says he’s refusing to “lend my name and sell tickets” to a gay-oriented fundraiser for Hillary’s reelection.

“Let me begin by stating that I believe Hillary Clinton has served the people of New York well in the United States Senate and that she deserves re-election,” he writes. “My vote for Senator Clinton will come despite her regrettable statements on the issue of marriage for same-sex couples and her current support for DOMA.”

She is, he writes “a complete disappointment and does not deserve an LGBT fundraiser.” (source)

This week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testified before the Senate regarding the administration’s request for $75 million to help further democracy in Iran, in which she stated that Iran was under the control of a “radical regime.” Yet the Bush administration recently went out of its way to support an Iranian initiative to deny access to gay and lesbian organizations within the United Nations. [...]

Iran’s government moved to have the gay and lesbian organizations’ applications rejected without discussion, which is largely unheard of at the UN. Although France and Germany voted against the rejection, the U.S. government sided with Iran, and was joined by Cameroon and Zimbabwe, in successfully denying UN access to the gay rights organizations. Instead of creating a coalition of the respectful, the U.S. government help create a coalition of the hateful. In doing so, the Bush administration joined forces with some of the most repressive regimes in modern history.

Under Iranian law, engaging in homosexual relations is illegal and punishable by death. And merely being gay is a crime punishable by being receiving 100 lashes. According to a report by the French newspaper Le Monde, in 1999 Iran killed ten men for homosexuality by stoning them. In 2000, 16 men were stoned to death. And in 2001, 12 men were stoned for being gay. In July of last year the Iranian regime was the subject of international criticism after it hung two teenage boys who were accused of being gay. According to one study, the Iranian government has executed over 4,000 men for homosexuality since 1979. (source)

Which leads me to ask.... is there anything, anything at all, that the Bush Administration can do right?

By siding with Iran on this, they (we) are condoning the executions of these gay men. So does that mean that Secretary Rice and dip shit Bush now think that violence and death against gay men in the United States is now justified?

I thought we didn’t give in to terrorism. Indeed, I thought that we were in a “war against terror”. Well, I’ve never been stoned, but it sounds like terrorism to me.

Laurel Hester succumbs to cancer a month after winning her crusade for partner benefits.

Hester, weak from the lung cancer that was killing her, made a public appearance before the Ocean County freeholders in December to ask that her pension benefits be passed to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree.

Her plea put a poignant face on the gay rights movement in New Jersey and around the nation. The freeholder board, which initially turned her down, ultimately acquiesced last month, and other counties began changing their rules as well.

A month after winning the right to pass her pension benefits to Andree -- and days after the state Supreme Court heard arguments on gay marriage -- Laurel Hester lost her battle with cancer yesterday. She was 49. [...]

Knowing she was dying of lung cancer, Hester asked the freeholder board privately in October to extend those benefits to Andree. The board said no, citing the increased expense the county would incur and insisting it was a matter for negotiations with the labor unions. [...]

The freeholders relented last month after Republican state legislators from Ocean County promised to sponsor legislation that would address the pension flaw. In one of his first acts after taking office, Gov. Jon Corzine intervened, telling the freeholders he would support a state legislative measure in the matter.

“I never expected to come out this way,” Hester said of challenging the freeholders. “So I’ve come full circle.” (source)

This is quite a sad story. I want to say that it had a good ending, but it’s hard for me to come to that conclusion. In the end, Laurel Hester did get her benefits that she would have automatically received had she and her partner been able to be married, but she went through hell to get them. This all prompted me to write this letter upon hearing about her death, to the Ocean Country freeholders. The letter was sent out a few minutes ago.

From the news article:
Freeholder Joseph Vicari said yesterday he was “very saddened” at the news of Hester’s death.

“She was a very dedicated, loyal employee of the county for 23 years,” he said. “We are very proud of her service. This is a great loss not only to the prosecutor’s office, but also for law enforcement.”

Although the past few months have been difficult for Hester and the freeholder board, Vicari said, he believes the freeholders did the right thing in helping to reverse the inequities in the pension system.

“Fortunately for Laurel Hester, she received what she wished,” he said. “She was a very kind person. Very compassionate.”

My response:
Yes... but you know what is really really sad? It’s the fact that the Ocean County freeholders put Laurel Hester through this hell in the last months of her life! You can tell the papers that you are “very saddened” at her death (typical cover-your-ass politician), but nothing covers up the fact that you did this to her - no one else. You should be down right ashamed for the way you conducted yourselves during this entire horrible experience. And for what? To save some money? Is that your excuse?

Be “very saddened” all you want. What you all did to Laurel Hester is truly UNFORGIVABLE. You can’t take that back with two lousy words. You owe her life partner a VERY sincere PUBLIC apology for what you put them both through. That is what will start the healing. I haven’t heard that from any of you. I doubt your sincerity in this public statement of being “very saddened”.

After the years of service that Laurel Hester gave you, she deserved a hell of a lot better than she got back.

Sincerely,

Bill Cannon
Connecticut (yes, EVERYONE saw this for it was - just calloused bigotry)

Gov. Christine Gregoire, center, signs a gay-civil-rights bill into law as lawmakers including bill sponsor Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, second from left, and his partner, Michael Shiosaki, left, watch. The bill makes Washington the 17th state passing such laws covering gays and lesbians. (source)
Photo credit: TED S. WARREN / AP