Homos Are Magic!!

I cannot do this one justice, its a hilarious take on gay life. How do we do it, after all!!!

Apologies From Ex-Gay Ministers

This story is incredible. It is about a press conference with former leaders of the gay to straight conversion organization, Exodus International. These people have apologized for the hurt they've caused. I find such groups disgusting and feel hope when people from these.. groups.. realize the damage they have caused and take action.

People such as the Reverend Mel White, ghost writer for the late Jerry Falwell's autobiography. Rev. White is the founder and president of a gay rights group called Soulfource. Soulforce has been protesting discrimination against openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students at christian colleges and was in Milwaukee recently. Rev. White is among the people that have come out against ex-gay ministries.

Now that's a legacy: "I wrote the autobiography for the Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority and the guy that proclaimed Tinky Winky was gay. Later, I had an epiphany and worked to improve the rights for gay people."

Witchhunts?

Witchhunts. Sounds like a page out of (biased) American history books, no? Bleu Copas, a former Arabic translator in the United States armed forces, did his part to comply with Don't Ask, Don't Tell. But that wasn't good enough for some. Some conducted investigation after investigation after investigation, and kicked him out.

Did you know that since its inception in 1993, between 11,000 and 12,000 service members have been discharged from the armed forces under Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Some are doctors, mechanics, Korean translators, Arabic translators, and of various other support occupations. Among them are 55 Arabic linguists which I've briefly blogged about once before.

Imagine the cost to recruit, train, and deploy troops. Then ooh, ahh: the military finds they may or may not be homosexual. If they don't out themselves, perhaps an investigation -- or shall we say, witchhunt -- begins. With the inevitable outcome of termination in the horizon.

Tax dollars at work!

HDNet World Report did an effective job at exposing our military leaders' beliefs about sexual orientation and irrational fear of homosexuality. It would've been mighty interesting if an interview with the military chiefs would have been possible. Instead, however, they get a written response which included:

The law establishes the basis for separation from the armed forces as conduct not orientation. Our policy reflects the law, i.e., no military member is discharged due to his or her sexual orientation.

Alrighty Then: Whose Jobs Are Being Taken Away?

I recently visited my dad for Father's Day. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.

During that trip I couldn't help but notice several restaurants that seemed on the verge of shutting down. Dad and I came across a Mexican restaurant sporting a Help Wanted sign (in English, by the way). Granted its a single example - but witnessing this situation first hand, the.. rhetoric.. from those who would say illegal immigrants are taking away their jobs IMMEDIATELY came to mind. Not to mention hasty generalizations about good people with the simple intent to pursue happiness and to improve the quality of their family lives.

I didn't exactly see a mob of those petty people smashing down this door for work.

So tell me: about this immigration problem used as a political wedge issue - exactly whose jobs are being taken away?