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Posts Tagged ‘Equality’

Happy Pride

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

While I am not always a rainbow flag waving gay (although I might be if the flag wasn’t so tacky) I am proud to celebrate Pride in Chicago this week. I was reminded by Anna Pulley’s article, “New Year, New Queer, Can Pride Redeem Itself,” we are celebrating for a reason.

“Increasingly, Pride means donning sequined pasties, getting trashed, f*cking a stranger, then pissing in the alley behind the Chicago Diner. The meaning of Pride has devolved into a hyper-sexed sloshpit. We seem to be increasingly at odds with each other - the dykes got so frustrated that they created their own parade, the gay men are accused of just wanting to party, the blacks are doing a Pride of their own next week, the bisexuals are either ignored or still fighting to prove they exist, the trans folk are pissed that all anyone cares about is marriage.” - Anna Pulley

DID YOU KNOW:

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police departments kept lists of known homosexuals, their favored establishments, and friends; the U.S. Postal Service kept track of addresses where material pertaining to homosexuality was mailed. State and local governments followed suit: bars catering to homosexuals were shut down, and their customers were arrested and exposed in newspapers. Cities performed “sweeps” to rid neighborhoods, parks, bars, and beaches of gays. They outlawed the wearing of opposite gender clothes and universities expelled instructors suspected of being homosexual. Thousands of gay men and lesbians were jailed, fired, or institutionalized in mental hospitals. Many lived double lives, keeping their private lives secret from their professional ones. (Wikipedia)

;(

If you aren’t familiar with the history of discrimination that gays and lesbians received in this country, a good place to start is the Stonewall Riots.

I’ll be live tweeting the festivities all weekend. If you want to join us, www.facebook.com/OnlyTony

Gay: As in Sexuality.

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

A friend of mine is writing a paper on Homosexuality in Society and asked me to answer a few questions for her Re: My Sexuality. I took the time to answer so I’ll post the answers here.

What are your biggest worries about not having equal rights or about societies out look on homosexuality?

  • Family organizations such as Focus on the Family.
  • They are hateful and make accusations that aren’t factually sound.
  • I fear them specifically because they have influence over a large number of minds that are easily influenced.

Are you out to everyone?

  • Yes. I’m “interested in Men” on Facebook. It’s official.

Do you believe it is a choice or do you believe you were born gay?

  • I’ve always preferred to be friends with females. Ever since I can remember.
  • I think this is because I always identified more with females. Which leads me to believe you are born gay.

When did u first know you were gay?

  • There isn’t a day you “realize” you are gay. Its a progression. I admitted to myself and fully “realized” when I was 16. That’s when I first hooked up with a guy.


If its a choice why would you chose to to be gay?

  • I can’t imagine anyone selecting a lifestyle that is more less accepted in society.
  • Some people attribute “electing to be gay” as a cry for attention.
  • Most attention one would get from simply being gay is negative. An extremely small percentage of people would decide being gay is the best method to bring about attention.

If you could be straight would you want to be?

  • No. I am comfortable being gay. If everyone was straight or for that matter, the same race, we would live in a sea of sameness. What kind of self-serving society would that create?
  • I feel I was born gay for a reason. I just don’t know what that reason is yet.

What are your thoughts about not being able to get married in the state you live in?

  • Being single, it doesn’t personally affect me. However, if I was at a stage in a committed relationship where I  wanted to be with one forever, I would want that relationship recognized and respected, just like heterosexual couples.
  • Benefits come into play as well.

What places do you feel most comfortable and most uncomfortable?

  • I feel most comfortable in liberal environments. Where the majority of people have been previously exposed to gay individuals and therefore don’t give my sexuality much thought.
  • This isn’t because I’m ashamed of who I am, rather I don’t want to feel uncomfortable fearing the uncomfortably of others.

Do you most of your friends and family accept you being gay?

  • If my friends didn’t accept me being gay, they wouldn’t truly be friends.
  • My family is from a rural, conservative background. They support me 100%.

Do you feel accepted by society today?

  • Unfortunately, I think that depends on where you live.
  • I feel we, as in the United States, are making positive steps toward equality.
  • I think societies acceptance of gays is dependent on their understanding. Which is directly correlated to their relationships with gay individuals.
  • If you don’t know anyone who is gay you are likely to be less tolerant because you don’t understand them.


What was growing up like for you?

  • I am from a liberal, rural town. I didn’t have a large support group.
  • I was fully ready to publicly come out my senior year of high school (2003). At the time, I was president of the student body. I made the decision not to come out for fear of impeachment.

Do you ever see your self with children? If so would you try to adopt or try to find a donor?

  • Depends on my financial situation. Ideally I’d like to adopt and find a donor.
  • Adopt - 1
  • Donor - 2 (one with my DNA and the other of my partners.)