Tony Kushner Responds To The Repeal Of Gay Marriage In Maine

Yesterday voters repealed a state law passed in May that legalized gay marriage in Maine. With 53 percent opposed to the law, Maine now has the dubious honor of joining 30 other states in which gay marriage has lost when put to a popular vote. As the news broke early this morning, acclaimed playwright Tony Kushner offered this exclusive comment to OUT:

“The news from Maine doesn’t make me depressed, but it does make me angry. I’m angry that bigots, cretins and theocrats get to vote on whether or not their fellow citizens are entitled to equality under the law. Our basic right to equal treatment is guaranteed by the US Constitution and should not be subject to state referendums. I’m angry that the Catholic Church and the Mormons, tax exempt under the increasingly laughable pretext that they have something to do with God, pump millions upon millions of dollars into this wicked campaign to promote bigotry and perpetuate human suffering, while supporters of LGBT equality pay taxes for the privilege of continuing to be not-fully enfranchised sub-citizens. I’m very angry that we’re being forced to fight for equality on a state-by-state basis. We are American citizens and we are entitled to 14th Amendment protection in every aspect of our lives, in every state in the union. I have no doubt whatsoever that LGBT people will soon accomplish this, but I’m angry at the setbacks, of course, in Maine, in California, which do nothing but hurt real human beings and gain no one anything that any sane human being could possibly want. And I guess I should add that I’m angry at the LGBT community’s lack of effective national political leadership, our lack of a coordinated national strategy, but there are signs that maybe this is beginning to change. And I guess I should add that I’m angry at myself: I didn’t send money or help out in Maine, so who have I got to be angry at, really, other than myself? On the other hand: 47% for marriage equality is a number that should hearten us and dishearten the bigots, cretins and theocrats. So let’s get back to work.”

Sad Day

The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8. Inequality and bigotry is still alive and well in 21st century America.


©2009 New York Times



This is a sad day indeed. A sad day for California. A sad day for the fair-minded people of the United States. But we will keep on fighting for equal rights for everyone in this country. Change for the better will come. Eventually.



Taken from www.towleroad.com


For now though, we feel just sad.


That is all we have to say today.

Gay Pride

This week is Gay Pride Week in Las Vegas.



Our Pride Parade starts tonight at 8:00 p.m. in downtown Las Vegas. It will even be broadcast live on one of the local cable channels. If you want to watch it live online, go to http://www.cox96.net/. It will be repeated throughout the month of May.



From what I understand, this parade is one of only a handful of Gay Pride parades in the world which is held at night. That makes it special I suppose. It doesn’t change the fact that the gay community in Las Vegas is rather invisible for the rest of the year. They mostly come together whenever there’s a party involved. Like a parade or a beer bust.



I don’t blame the people though. It’s this town. Las Vegas is too transient. Too many people come and go. And the majority of people whom actually decide to stay and trying to make a living here have impossible working hours. That, among other things, makes it hard to get to know people and form friendships. Which in turn also makes it extremely difficult to growing roots, helping to form a lasting foundation for creating a sense of community.



In any case, this is Pride Week. But what are we LGBT people proud of? I’m not particular proud to be gay, nor am I ashamed of it. I don’t advertise it but I don’t hide it either. How could I? You also won’t find me walking around and asking heterosexual people if they are straight. What difference does it make anyway? It’s what I am. I can’t change it. Sorry, but despite what all fanatic religious Republican nutcases claim, there is no switch or a button to turn my homosexuality on or off. If it is that easy, then why don’t heterosexuals try to be homosexuals for a minute or an hour? You know, just for the heck of it. To see what it feels like. Why don’t black people flick the switch to become Asian people?



Ooohh...ooohhh...wait! I really wanna be a Vulcan. That’s it! Where is that damn switch?



When I look at a beautiful woman I can admire her looks and appreciate her wits, but nothing else happens down there in the plumbing department. No switch there to “turn me on.” While all the straight guys may go all gaga over her boobs, I’d probably ask what her take on global warming may be.



On the other hand, if you’d put a man like Jason Statham or a younger Sam Elliott (hell, I take the older one too) in front of me, than it’s me who hears all the bells ringing. Hallejuja! Fireworks galore, if you know what I mean. Are my jeans getting tighter? Hot Dang!



But back to the whole Gay Pride thing. If people would actually believe in equality, the whole “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” thing and the United States Constitution, and be more understanding and tolerant, as Christianity is supposedly teaching us to be, then there would not be the need for a Gay Pride celebration. Or the need for a Black History Month. Or a Hispanic Heritage Week. We all would be equal. The same as everyone else. It wouldn’t matter if a man or a woman is straight, gay, black, jewish, disabled, of royal descent or a farm worker. We would all have the same rights.



No, let me rephrase that. We DO have the same rights. Yet, we are still fighting for these rights. And why the hell is this even disputed in this so-called “land of the free?”



Besides, why the fuck (excuse my fleeting expletives, FCC) would I voluntarily want to be a gay person, when a lot of people call me offensive names for this very fact. Or spit in my face. Or beat me to a pulp. Or basically crucify me to a fence and leave me to die. And no, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Mathew Shepard’s death and the way he was killed was not a hoax!



Tell me, please. Why would I want all the hatred, abuse and threats to George’s and my life if all I would have to do is turn “it” off.



Because I can’t. It’s not possible.



I am gay!



Nothing to be done about it or proud or ashamed of.



But I am who I am. I like who I am. I like to laugh. I get hungry. I have dreams. I feel pain. I have a job. I pay taxes. I have the most loving and amazing man whom I share a wonderful life and a beautiful home with. And I love him with all my heart until the day I die.



And for that...I’m very proud indeed.



Happy Pride!

Las Vegas for Equal Rights

The people in the LGBT community want the same rights like any other people. This means equal rights, not special rights. This Saturday marks the National Day Of Protest Against Marriage Discrimination. Las Vegas will join other cities across the nation to fight for our basic rights. Please come and make our voices heard. Help achieve equality for every single person. This is not just about the right to marry alone. There is so much more at stake here.

http://www.thecenterlv.com/events.htm

Change only for the Straight?

We received an anonymous and interesting comment in response to my last entry and regarding Proposition 8 in California.

Los Angeles Times

We think it’s a bit unfair to say that gay activists let us down. There were more than enough LGBT organizations out there to inform us about what was going on regarding Proposition 8 ever since it succeeded to be put on the voting ballot. We’ve been following the print and television news for months and also read countless articles, opinions, blogs, comments and strategic plans how to combat this unfair proposition.

Additionally, there were numerous organizations and groups where people could join or donate either money or personal time as a volunteer to help spread the news how to defeat this measure.
Of course, this also meant that people had to be making a personal effort to actually do some research and seek out this types of groups and activities. Either on the internet or by calling or visiting their offices in person. In doing so, an interested reader and potential voter would have gathered enough information about the issues, the pros and cons presented by supporters and their opponents, and the opportunities to get involved or to visit meetings and rallies.

And here lies the problem. It takes effort to do these things. YOU have to make this happen. You cannot solely rely on the news or those organizations to come to you. They can only do so much and only succeed if you let them. America has become a society of convenience. If something requires the slightest effort on someone’s part, then no one will even attempt to make an effort. And if the subject matter is not interesting enough or presented all neatly and flashy, people tend to loose attention very quickly. Even if the issue at stake would greatly improve their own rights or benefits.

So, to say that gay activists let us down is not quite true. There were...and still are...more than enough outlets to inform and get informed on what happened. Besides mainstream media, there were many web sites and blogs. Some web sites were just recently created for the purpose to get the latest news out to the people and call for their involvement. If people are truly interested to get the latest news or facts about issues, then they’ll get them. They’ll make an effort to find the information. Eventually, the information will find them somehow. We live in Nevada, but we knew that it didn’t look too good for our side in California. Or Arizona. Or Florida. We even knew that the Swedish government is split on the gay marriage issue in that country.

We saw the news that Proposition 8 had a good chance of passing. So did many others, on both sides. Many people stepped up their efforts even more to do whatever they deemed necessary to either help or defeat this measure. The gay activists did everything they could to help us all achieve equal rights. And for that we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Unfortunately, our opponents had more money, manpower and help from the outside to misconstrue perceptions and spread false information about the LGBT community.

However, we do agree on one thing. The apathy of many people when it comes to the right to vote, or politics in general. This is not a particular gay or straight quality. But gay people seem to be particularly indifferent when it comes to their own civil rights. If something is not exciting enough they couldn’t be bothered with it. We hate to admit this, but the majority of the gay community is indeed superficial and doesn’t take gay rights and issues very serious. When important issues are discussed then most gays will scream: “Boring.” While this certainly does not apply to everyone, that wide-spread gay stereotype however is for the most part very much true.

That’s why George and I aren’t part of the so-called gay scene. Whatever that means. We don’t fit their criteria and quite frankly...we don’t want to. If we do happen to attend a gay social gathering or go to a gay bar, others wouldn’t give us the time of day. Even if we just try to start a friendly, harmless small-talk with some people, hoping to break some ice. Most are too consumed with certain looks, appearances or some hierarchical ranking. It is next to impossible to be integrated into that clique if one doesn’t fit the expected label.

They can have that all nonsense. We already gave up on the notion to make even one decent friend and have come to the conclusion that there really is no gay community. Not in the sense of camaraderie or helping to make a difference for the good of the many. Gay...or straight, for that matter. At least not in Las Vegas. Our society has become very pretentious, suspicious and angry, but oblivious to everything else at the same time.

If we sound bitter, we’re not. It’s somewhat sad that it seems so difficult to make any friends. But that’s okay. It‘s their loss, not ours. George and I have each other. Besides, we have some friends, although they’re all living out-of-state. And if we get to see them every once in a blue moon, so be it.

Yet I’m still giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. Yes, even the gays. Despite the many dissapointments. Maybe one day they too will realize that fighting for people’s rights and the community’s well-being...or just giving someone the time of day...is far more rewarding than hearing the latest gossip of so-and-so or be up-to-date with the newest trends.

The people here in the United States just elected it’s first black president. Progress has been made. So there’s still hope yet. Maybe this is the kick in the butt that America, or Americans, needed to finally start shedding some of the prejudice and that fear of the unknown. Maybe the promised change will indeed come and help to open minds and hearts again down the road. Who knows? Time will tell.

Maybe we’ll see the first female president. The first gay president.

Like I concluded in my previous entry...baby steps.

Small little baby steps.

By the way...gay activists alert! November 15th, 2008 is National Day Of Protest Against Marriage Discrimination. So make your voice heard. Find more info on this web site:

www.jointheimpact.com We’re positive that there are many more web sites like this out there.

Make an effort, be involved, help change minds for the better.

Earth and AIDS

First off, today is Earth Day.

Two of many things most Americans aren’t too concerned with is the horrible state which our environment is in and the unequal status of the LGBT community in the United States.

Doing our part in conserving energy, recycling and taking care of the earth is a no-brainer. If the air is too polluted to breath, the water too toxic to drink and our food supply too genetically modified to cause more harm in the long run, what else is there? Do we eat dollar bills? Drink the last remaining drops of fossil fuel? It’s not that hard to understand that the human race depends on a clean environment to survive. It’s very simple really.

George and I recycle. We have replaced most of our indoor and outdoor incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient fluorescent ones, and we car pool every day. We don’t turn the heater or air-conditioner on until absolutely necessary. Even during the summer desert heat we have our thermostat set at 84 degrees. Otherwise we’d be working only to pay for mortgage and the already way too high power bill. It’s mind of matter.

The other issue, which is rather alarming, is the fact that people of the LGBT community in the U.S. are becoming third class citizens. For whom exactly does "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," as it is stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, apply to then? Only to rich white guys? Some people want to vote for a federal amendment to ban same-sex marriage. What business is it of heterosexual people whom gays or lesbians love and want to spend their lives with? What gives them the right to take away the right of other people? Not too long ago in this country, women would not even have been allowed to vote on this subject. Or any subject, for that matter. Imagine that, certain white straight people had no equal rights at one point in history of the United States.

Then there is the whole debacle how HIV infected people are being treated and how AIDS in general is being used as a smear campaign by some right-wing, religious fanatics against anything gay or lesbian. The fact that HIV is not only affecting homosexuals, but also heterosexual people, including women and children, is conveniently swept under the rug. The claim that AIDS is a gay disease is not only a lie but also ignorant. And while the endless debates and finger pointing over whether it is an abomination and who to blame rages on; countless people continue to suffer. With no cure in sight, without help or compassion.

One of the few things that help to bring some kind of relief are events such as the annual Las Vegas AIDS Walk, which was held on Sunday. The money raised will help the AFAN (Aid for AIDS of Nevada) organization to provide support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Nevada.

George and I participated in the walk, as we did last year. It’s our little contribution to a great cause and it’s usually fun too. Some people came in costumes. Many families with children were taking part as well. And as always, there were lots of dogs. Countless dogs in every size and shape were present. The weather cooperated too. It was sunny and very comfortable. Below are some photos of Sunday’s event.

This is actually a picture from last year's AIDS Walk in Las Vegas. Here we are with one of the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.