Thursday, December 22, 2011

2011 Ends with great LGBT strides.........except!

As this year come to a close, I would like to wish everyone a prosperous 2012. We have had some good times and some not so good. Almost rough you would say. We have had tremendous breakthroughs.

*Marriage Equality in New York
*DADT (Dont Ask, Dont tell) repealed
*Doma is no longer going to be defended by the Obama Administration
*Federal Policy and Immigration. Under the direction of President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton declares to the world that Human rights are Gay rights. The Administration put an end to the deportation of legally married foreign nationals of same sex American citizens.
*Extension of Federal Benefits

These are WONDERFUL strides towards equality. There is one more giant hurdle to leap. That is the hurdle of teen suicide. 34,000 teens attempt or fulfill suicide each year.
It is the 3rd. leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds. LGBT youth attempt it 4 times more than their peers.
In terms of school climate, approximately 25% of LGBT students have been harassed due to sexual orientation. LGBT students do not feel safe at school 3 times more, 22% vs 7% heterosexual students. 90%of LGBT students have been harassed or assaulted in 2011 vs 62% of non-LGBT teens.

Sexual minority youth or teens that identify themselves as LGBT, are bullied 3 times more than heterosexual teens. And almost ALL transgendered students have been verbally harassed. e.g. called names or threatened in the past year because of their sexual orientation. (89%) and gender expression (90%)
So as you can see, we still have great strides to go. It's great for LGBT adults to have their freedoms, but what about our youth? But I propose we do not just focus on LGBT teens in the coming year. It's a sad state of affairs that so many teens in America attempt or follow through with suicide. We send our children to school to be taught not taunted.

I'm reminded of the words of a great man. But, until we get these numbers down, I do not believe they can be said. When that day comes, then we can say........
"That's one small step for Man, one giant leap for Mankind"  
Astronaut Neal Armstrong, first man on the moon.

Thank You to the GLSEN site for their statistics. That's the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Sorry...No room at this inn!

You know...I read a disturbing article the other day. An article by the group known as the Rainbow Sash Movement.This is an LGBT group who's main mission is to hold the Roman Catholic Church to a higher standard in regards to sexuality. This is a wonderful group. Please Youtube them. I promise you, you will like them.

Now, their article was on the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. It dealt with the high rate of homeless, hungry LGBT families that are out there in this world. We don't think of it, but yes, in this declining economy, we must look at the fact that even we LGBT'ers are affected. We've lost jobs. We've lost homes. And it's a sad fact that the nations two largest charitable organizations are...here I go...going to ruffle a few feathers...HOMOPHOBIC! Both organizations say that their religious beliefs on Homosexuality take precedence when it comes to taking care of the LGBT poor. In some cases, even refusing shelter to same sex couples unless they deny who they are and break up. REALLY? That's Christian? Where is that written? Not in my Bible!
I do not see Jesus the Christ healing the blind man or the centurions daughter, the lepers, the possessed or anyone with conditions! NO! He simply saw a need, fulfilled it.
The deed came not before the need. In fact it was the opposite. He filled the need and the deed followed.
I work in a major grocery store here where I live. I see the Salvation Army bell ringer every day. If they knew that he was as flamey as the Star of Bethlehem, his light would probably be without a job. And one of the women's shelters here is run by Catholic Charities. With a Big ole dykemeister in charge. I am beginning to think they treat us like the Black Entertainers of the 1950's.. It' ok to sing and dance for us, but do not sit at our tables or use our hotels.
So this holiday season I would like to remind ALL charitable groups the words of the Christ Himself..........
"For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink.
I was a stranger and you took Me in";.....Then the righteous will answer and say
"Lord when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
 Or see you as a stranger and take You in?".....And the King will answer "I say
 to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you
it to Me." Matthew 25:35-40.
May I say Merry Christmas...Happy Hanukkah....Happy Kwanzaa...Blessed Winter Solstice...Or whatever you believe.