Be the adult you want to see kids become...

I try my best to keep up with news from back home. Most of the politics and whatever Huffington Post and CNN International version deems important enough to read about. I always read the world news of whatever newspaper I can get in English and if I can get my hand on an International Tribune…well, then I’m thrilled.

I stopped reading the U.S. version of CNN over a year ago. Not that I don’t want news about the U.S., but because more times than not I think it focuses on ridiculous things. I remember a girl from the US traveling to Europe last year totaling freaking out about the swine flu. I was like “Really? That’s now buried on like page 9 of the Tribune.” I just think U.S. news can be a little sensationalized. Not to mention I just don’t really think Lindsey-freaking-Lohan’s jail time should be a headline. We live in a big world, people- no matter how small you try to make yours.

That said, I have paid attention to this rash of reporting on gay teen suicides. I emphasize the increase in reporting instead of the actual suicides because I don’t really think there are more going on than before. I would guess there are probably even less than in years past, but I am appreciative that we live in a time where reporting about them and making them headlines is being done by the media. Sometimes they actually get the headlines right.

It breaks my heart to know these young lives were cut short because of the ridiculous climate of hate that is going on in my country. It embarrasses me to no end that Americans think they are so progressive when in fact we are light years behind the rest of the civilized world when it comes to equality and fairness.

I don’t think the blame for the loss of these children lies just with the bullies that taunted them. Remember they were just kids too. I think we can spread the blame around equally to the politicians squawking on about denying rights to LGBT citizens, religious leaders preaching hate from the pulpit, parents nurturing bigotry and allowing it to be a part of their homes and certain TV personalities on certain channels (begins with an F and ends with OX) drilling divisive messages of intolerance into anyone who is ignorant enough to listen.

I don’t have much hope for the aforementioned people, so the responsibility to change this lies with those of us equipped with a heart and at least half a brain. If you want to share your story you can make a video for the It Get’s Better channel on Youtube.

It’s an amazing project. This is my favorite video so far…



(“If your parents send you to summer camp-find the arts and crafts cabin and go there immediately! You will excel!” Ha! I love these guys!)

No time or desire to make a video? Then you can still make a difference by just making the pledge to always be a compassionate and tolerant role model for any youth (gay, straight or in-between) in your life. Not to mention a role model for those adults who haven’t quite gotten it figured out yet.

I don’t think there can be a bigger help for struggling teens than to see out loud and proud, happy and successful LGBT adults living open and honest lives or straight adults embracing their LGBT friends and family openly and honestly into their lives. Remember the youth of today are those who will be picking out our nursing homes in the future.

Nice job, Florida!

An appeals court in Florida has struck down their horrific ban on gay adoption. I certainly hope this dissuades Georgia's Republican nominee for Governor from making this one of the hot button issues for this election.

Read about the victory in Florida here.

i heart progress

from cnn:

The Obama administration is expected to announce Wednesday that gay workers will be able to take medical leave to care for the sick or newborn children of their same-sex partners as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which generally allows those working for companies with 50 or more employees to take 12 unpaid weeks off to care for newborns or children with serious health issues.

lost a battle but the fight will continue

"There's never a good time for civil rights. There's never, ever, ever, ever a good time for civil rights. I know. I get that," said Sen. Tom Duane, a Manhattan Democrat who was the chamber's first openly gay member. "But the paradox is, it's always the time to be on the right side of history"

*thanks to dr. pants for the video. and when i say "dr." i mean it in the most literal sense...as for the "pants" part i can't for the life of me remember where that came from*

not the "change" i was looking for

Wish President Barack Obama felt the same way…

“It is my strong belief that the government has to treat all citizens equally. I come from that in part out of personal experience. When you're a black guy named Barack Obama, you know what it's like to be on the outside. And so my concern is continually to make sure that the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for all people.

That's why I opposed DOMA in 2006 when I ran for the Senate. That's why I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a strong version, in which the rights that are conferred at the federal level to persons who are part of the same sex union are compatible.

When it comes to federal rights, the over 1,100 rights that right now are not being given to same sex couples, I think that's unacceptable, and as president of the United States, I am going to fight hard to make sure that those rights are available.”
- Senator Barack Obama

…I thought I finally had a President I could believe in, but, as of now it looks like I very, very wrong.