Too often, most of us tend to go through life taking small things for granted: our friends, our family, and all the good things that should truly matter. It’s unfortunate, but many times we don’t realize how much we loved something or someone until they’re gone. In that sense, life can have a bittersweet way of bringing things full circle at times.

For anyone who didn’t know Nathan Christofferson, he was a prominent activist in California fighting for equality within the LGBT community. Volunteering as a chapter leader for Equality California (though offered a job as a field rep.), he was well known throughout the state, even making friends with one of his favorite icons- Margaret Cho. Sadly, at the age of 27, Nathan passed away. Being a victim of workplace discrimination and coming from a Christian family whom loved him dearly (yet struggled to accept his sexuality), Nathan was working to bridge a gap between a community full of hypocrisy and for those led astray from the true unconditional love of Christ.

As I write this, it seems somewhat taboo to be writing for a gay column yet at the same time tie in the phrase “the love of Christ”. I ask myself, why does it seemingly have to be this way? Perhaps it’s just my jaded perception of organized religion, or perhaps it’s because I know all too well how easily even those with faith can be led astray. By now I’m sure there are readers who have a bitter taste even thinking of religion or the search for God, but I’m also certain there are those with a mustard seed of faith- who may need the reassurance that they are loved by a higher power. One thing I remember best about Nathan was that he knew and practiced the art of loving unconditionally; a virtue anyone, religious or not, should possess.      

Although it’s been five years since his death, Nathan remains in the heart of his friends and family. He was my best friend, and in my eyes a martyr used by God to show those of us that knew him, the depths of his and God’s unconditional love for all people. For whatever reason, he spent the last moments of his life (with me) praying; as if he knew his time had come. I had never experienced the pain of losing someone I loved so much. Following his death, I was contacted by a few national journalists, but in my heart I knew it would be best if someday I wrote what I felt Nathan would have wanted everyone to know (so here I am). If there was one thing Nathan would want everyone to know, it would be that they were loved by someone, whether they believe it or not. He is missed and loved by many, but I also know that his death was merely his beginning. In remembrance of the fifth anniversary of his death and National Gay Pride month, I am truly grateful for the people who have fought and continue to fight for equal rights in the name of love.

Nathan Christofferson was also a contributing journalist for GayFresno.com- if you would like to read more about his life, you can use a search engine for articles in a number of nation-wide magazines regarding his death (though I urge you to take what is written about his family with a grain of salt) – Fabian F.

From President Obama...

As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.

LGBT Americans have enriched and strengthened the fabric of our national life. From business leaders and professors to athletes and first responders, LGBT individuals have achieved success and prominence in every discipline. They are our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and our friends and neighbors. Across my Administration, openly LGBT employees are serving at every level. Thanks to those who came before us, the brave men and women who marched, stood up to injustice, and brought change through acts of compassion or defiance we have made enormous progress and continue to strive for a more perfect union.

My Administration has advanced our journey by signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which strengthens Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides life saving medical services and support to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and finally eliminated the HIV entry ban. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give LGBT patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions.

In a stunning development, the gay couple in Malawi who were recently sentenced to 14 years hard labor in prison for the crime of celebrating their engagement, have been released by the President of the country.

 

Following external pressure from various nations and individuals, President Bingu wa Mutharika stated that while he still believes the couple's actions to be "totally wrong", that he would release them for humanitarian reasons. In Malawi, homosexuality is equated to Satanism. This is an amazing victory, when the overwhelming public opinion in the country was to jail the couple.  

Madonna started a campaign for signatures to release the couple, and had 30,000 people sign the petition. Aid and human rights groups put pressure on the President of Malawi, as did the United Nations, and the UK, Malawi's biggest donor.

Read More Here...

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There's a very valid reason why closeted gay politicians need to be outed by any means necessary. It's hard to believe big ol' closet case Charlie Crist is still alive in politics despite a multitude of sources calling him out for being gay (which he still denies). But our own li'l ol' Roy Ashburn, who was caught by police recently for drunk driving after leaving a gay bar in Sacramento is now the example of why it's simply not permissible for politicians to be closeted if they're gay. This is Ashburn's latest quote...

 

"My practice in my entire political career when it came to gay issues was to prevent any kind of spotlight from being shined my way, because I was in hiding. So casting any kind of vote might, could in some way, lead to my secret being revealed. That was terrifying to me. It was paralyzing. So I cast some votes that have denied gay people of their basic, equal treatment under the law, and I'm not proud of it. I'm not going to do that again."

Now that Ashburn has started to vote with his brain rather than his fear, it's unfortunate that he'll be out of office soon.

Following the lead of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, the House has passed the approval for a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. The vote was 234 Yes and 194 No. See The Complete Vote Breakdown HERE...  Read More Here...

The Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety & Availability will take up the issue of the gay blood donation ban which has barred gay men from donating blood since 1983. It was instituted at the time because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, to protect the general public.

Things are different now. First of all, we all understand now that AIDS is not a gay disease, and that it effects all populations. Second, in 1983 we didn't have the technology to detect the disease in donated blood. Now, all donated blood is screened for HIV before being allowed in to the nation's blood supply. Still, the current guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration state that any man who has had sex with another man since 1977, even if it was only once, is barred from donating blood.

The issue will be taken up on June 10th & 11th, and recommendations will be made to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA.

Read More Here...

Dan Choi, who's promised to start a hunger strike this weekend over the recent developments in Congress on Don't Ask Don't Tell, appears on the Joy Behar show to discuss the issue.

With a vote of 16 for and 12 against, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a repeal of "Don't  Ask Don't Tell" the 1993 policy put in place by Bill Clinton which allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military only if they conceal their sexual orientation. The proposal will next go the House for approval, with many objections and veiled threats of filibusters already making the rounds.

Some are worried about the reaction of the soldiers, who've already been told that their opinions will be taken into account while conducting a nearly yearlong study of the possible effects of the repeal, which is scheduled to be completed in December of this year.

Republican Howard McKeon of California and the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee stated that through the actions of the Senate the soldiers are now being basically told..."Your opinion, your views, do not count." I find it one of the most disingenuous acts for people to believe the soldier's opinions on this issue matter at all. The military has historically made their own rules and soldiers are expected to abide by and follow them without question. Suddenly, now that gay and lesbian soldiers might be treated equally, they're concerned with the feelings of the soldiers?

Give me a break.

Still, many are unhappy with this recent development in DADT, since it basically states that nothing has to be done formally until at least December, when the study will complete. Additionally, this proposal apparently turns over the strategy and timeline of the repeal implementation to the military, rather than Congress.

This is all mixed with the nut balls on the right who are now saying things like the repeal of DADT will create gay rape in the military, risk of infection through "HIV tainted" blood from gay soldiers, and that Hitler surrounded himself with gay soldiers, so what does that tell you?

Read More Here... 

Voting Breakdown:

Yes: Carl Levin (Michigan), Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia), Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut), Jack Reed (Rhode Island), Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii), Bill Nelson (Florida), Ben Nelson (Nebraska), Evan Bayh (Indiana), Claire McCaskill (Missouri), Mark Udall (Colorado), Kay R. Hagan (North Carolina), Mark Begich (Alaska), Roland W. Burris (Illinois), Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico), Edward E. Kaufman (Delaware), Susan M. Collins (Maine) - only Republican

No: Jim Webb (Virginia) - only Democrat, John McCain (Arizona), James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma), Jeff Sessions (Alabama), Saxby Chambliss (Georgia), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), John Thune (South Dakota), Roger F. Wicker (Mississippi), George S. LeMieux (Florida), Scott Brown (Massachusetts) Richard Burr (North Carolina) David Vitter (Louisiana)

 

Click on images to enlarge for viewing...Photos Courtesy Jim Daggs...See more videos of Harvey Milk Day Events by visiting our YouTube Page  Videos are High Definition so choose the highest resolution for best viewing...

Rand Paul, son of Ron Paul, has just won a Senate race in Kentucky. In his victory speech he aligned himself with the Tea Party and uttered "We're here to take our government back". Without knowing much else about what he means by that, I'll leave it to your interpretation. It's not nearly as disturbing as what he's being grilled about here on the Rachel Maddow show. He's made statements recently that he had problems with the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Not a lot of problems, but one very important one that he continually dodges here with Rachel. It seems he's not so sure that government has a place to step in and tell private businesses that they aren't allowed to discriminate. You know, because Americans are so, you know, "rational".

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The Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State is pleased and proud to announce its 2010-11 scholars – Allison Zulewski, Leonel Barajas and Julia Scott – each will receive a $2,000 award to assist them with their studies. (Zulewski, Barajas and Scott were also BPF scholars for 2009-10). The Bulldog Pride Fund will also award the TimeOut Spirit Award of $2,000 to the student(s) that perform as Fresno State’s mascot.

“Due to the size, scope and success of the Bulldog Pride Fund’s endowment we’re awarding four $2,000 scholarships ($8,000 total) this fall,” reported Peter Robertson, founder and three-time Fresno State graduate. “With tuition and fees at Fresno State recently increased by 30 percent, the financial support that we provide these students is vital.”

Zulewski is a sophomore majoring in liberal studies; Barajas is a sophomore majoring in mass communication and journalism; and Scott is a senior majoring in fine art.

“Since 2006, the Bulldog Pride Fund has awarded a total of $21,000 to well-deserving students at Fresno State,” added Robertson. “This has been made possible by our concise and simple mission statement, the high caliber of our student scholars, our generous donors, and our business model combined with financial acumen and transparency.”

The 2010-11 Bulldog Pride Fund scholars will be publicly honored at a reception on Friday, October 15, 2009, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Jensen Library of the Smittcamp Alumni House. The event is before the Fresno State Alumni Association’s Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala at the Save Mart Center being held the same evening. A short program begins at 4:30 p.m. and complimentary refreshments will be provided.

# # #

Follow the BULLDOG PRIDE FUND on facebook and twitter: www.bulldogpride.org

 

 

This Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, is the first official Harvey Milk Day in the state of California. Thanks to the film "Milk" starring Sean Penn, a new generation of young people are now aware of Milk's history and influence in the continuing battle for LGBT Equality. May 22nd is Harvey Milk's actual birthday. He was 48 years old when he was shot and killed by Dan White in 1978.

Harvey Milk was born to Jewish parents in New York in 1930. He grew up as any other child, played football in high school, he was gregarious, but kept his homosexuality a secret. He later joined the Navy during the Korean war and afterwards worked as a teacher.

Milk's story is very different than the stories of many of today's LGBT activists, who become involved in one way or another in the battle for equality at very young ages. Not only did Harvey Milk not get involved in the movement, and politics in general, until he was in his forties, for most of his life before that, he was actually opposed to open rebellion in the political arena. In fact, one partner's activist status and subsequent conflicts with the police disturbed Milk, and contributed to the end of the relationship.

 

       If many people drove by Naked Fish, they would not go there. It is in a seedy strip mall on the southeast corner of Fresno and Ashlan, not a known pocket for good food. Inside though, is the best sushi in the city, second to none.

         You walk inside to a Spartan interior, nothing fancy, and sit down at whatever table you desire. During my most recent visit, I went with a friend.  My friend and I ordered two sushi rolls apiece and shared them. Sushi is one of those foods that is more fun with the more people you have because you get to try more rolls.  I ordered the Tempura Roll and the Philadelphia Roll, my two favorite rolls. The Tempura Roll has shrimp fried lightly in a crisp batter.  The Philadelphia roll has salmon, cream cheese, and in this case cucumber, though the vegetable may vary. My friend ordered the Dragon Roll and the Caterpillar Roll. The Dragon Roll is a spicy tuna mixture with red roe and a little hot sauce. The Caterpillar Roll is a shrimp tempura roll, with black roe, a little hot sauce, and sliced avocado over the top like a caterpillar. I had not tried the last two yet so they were a new experience, but a very enjoyable one. The hot sauce was just enough to tease the tongue, but not so much as to make one go grabbing for water.

        The service was friendly, and all the rolls were very well done, displaying a lot of talent. To wash it down, I ordered an imported $30 bottle of sake that came in a tall crystalline bottle with a cork. All in all, Naked Fish is a superb experience. 

 

Shit shit shit were my thoughts as I stood there. Why me? Why now. This was the anxiety that kept running through my brain in the locker room. Andrew stood to my right. He was tall and skinny. He put off gym another year as much as I wanted to. He had these big eyes and his body was rather white. He was my friend though. We always talked with each other. Usually we discussed how we hated gym.

        To my far right there was someone I was secretly attempting not to keep my eye on. I really tried my best not to look as we all started undressing for swimming. I had my eyes in front of me staring into the locker. I was going crossed eyed as I started undressing. I kept my eyes forward as I dressed so I wouldn’t be tempted by the devil to look at Bryan who was probably now butt naked on my right. Nearly tripping as I bent over to pull up my swim trunks my eyes slip only to the left to see Andrew and his philosophy hanging out. Embarrassed and disturbed I wish I had looked to the other way to see Zeus philosophy!

 

My name is Maria I am 26 years of age. I was born in Mexico, I came to the USA when I was ten. I come from a very strong religious background and you already guess yes I am Catholic.

Well I always knew I had no interest in guys what so ever unless they were friends. Well through high school I never dated anyone just because I was too afraid to come and out and hear people talk about me since I come from a small town around the Fresno county. It wasn't until my senior year in high school that I meet the first girl that I fell for. We had a great time talking, the chemistry was there. I couldn’t deny it even if I tried, we dated for five years which, yes, it’s a long time. I broke up with her. Things were just not working out.

I was single for two years and didn’t really want to date. Until one night I met the most beautiful girl, we started talking and little by little she won me over or I won her over, we haven’t decided on that until this day. I've been with her for almost two years now and I've never been happier.

When things started to get serious with her I knew I had to come out and let my parents know I was GAY since my brothers and sisters knew about it already and they supported me. It was a week before my 24th birthday I called my parents and invited them to dinner. My mom was somewhat suspicious on why I would want to take them out to dinner. It took me about two days to convince them to come over so we can go to dinner. We ate dinner at Famous Dave’s. On our way to my apartment I told my little sister I am going to need you to go inside the apartment, I need to talk to mom and dad. But of course she wanted to know why. I told her don’t worry it has nothing to do with you, just do as I say. Then the moment of true came ahhhhhh

Me: Mom, Dad I need to talk to you guys.

Mom: About what?

 

Tuesday, May. 11, 2010 By Brad Branan / The Fresno Bee

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors today narrowly approved a cost-cutting plan that includes closure of the county's only AIDS clinic.

The county will eliminate 47 public health positions, 15 of which are currently filled, by June 28. The cuts were requested by Public Health Director Edward Moreno, who said they were necessary to offset a projected $5 million budget shortfall in the fiscal year starting July 1.

Supervisors approved his plan by a 3-2 vote, with Susan Anderson and Henry Perea in opposition. Perea said the move will further reduce the county's safety net for people in need of social services.

Anderson shared his concerns, and added that she thought the cuts should be discussed in upcoming budget talks.

Moreno said he wanted the cuts in place sooner so the county can experience the savings as quickly as possible. Otherwise, more cuts would be needed, he said.

The county will continue to provide testing for HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- but will stop providing testing and other services for other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. The end of those services worries some public-health advocates, who note that Fresno County has high rates for such diseases.

We're off to see the Wizard...If you love "The Wizard Of Oz", this will be a good week. As Rick Bentley of the Fresno Bee puts it... "for the next week - you won't be able to swing a Munchkin without hitting an "Oz" lover."

Read Rick Bentley's Coverage of the week HERE...

A national touring company of "The Wizard of Oz" will play the Saroyan Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday. For more info and tickets, click HERE... There are also performances of "Return to Oz," through Saturday, at Fresno State.

Learn more from Fresno State News by clicking HERE... 

Read Donald Munro's Coverage HERE...

Currently there's an exhibition at the Henry Madden Library's Leon S Peters Gallery, Shirley Harnish Brinker Gallery and Arne Nixon Center reading room on the campus of Fresno State. Included in the exhibit are various items representing the wide range of entertainment provided by all incarnations which have sprung out of the original ideas of L. Frank Baum. There are costumes, art and books, and memorabilia from the world of "Oz". It's free to the public, and is open 10AM-5PM weekdays, 1PM-5PM on Saturday and 2PM-5PM on Sunday. The exhibit concludes on May 21st.

It's all a precursor to the big event, the OZ BOOKS CONFERENCE AT FRESNO STATE, which runs May 14th - May 16th, and is part of the 2010 National Convention of the Wizard Of Oz Club. The event includes such events as L. Frank Baum's great grandson, Robert Baum, reading letters from the author, exhibitions, and a variety of speakers on such topics as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Modernized Fairy Tale”, “Silver Slippers or Ruby Shoes—That is the Question”, “Eroticism in the Emerald City: The Awakening of Dorothy’s Sexuality in Oz as Discussed in Alan Moore’s Lost Girls”, “Girlish Boys and Boyish Girls: Oz Characters as Experienced by Gay Oz Fans”, “L. Frank Baum and Harriet Beecher Stowe: Using Sentimentalism to Inspire a Female Audience”, “The Dualities of Wicked” and  a performance of “Time Again in Oz,” directed by J. Daniel Herring, Speech Arts Building, John Wright Theatre, followed by a meeting with the cast of the play. This is but a sampling of the many events offered during the conference, which includes the author of "Wicked", Gregory Maguire.

Learn more about the Oz Books Conference by clicking HERE

And on Saturday night, May 15th, the North Tower Circle will host the Official Party for the OZ BOOKS CONFERENCE AT FRESNO STATE, the OZ PARTY. Admission is free and includes an OZ inspired nightclub, Exclusive performances, a "Twister" competition and guests from the OZ BOOKS CONFERENCE.  The party starts at the North Tower Circle at 10PM, with doors @7PM.

So take some time to participate and appreciate all the wonderful OZ inspired events in Fresno this week. No need to go out of town to revel in the world of OZ, because, there's no place like home...

 

I would strongly advise any and every young lesbian against coming out this way to their mothers! At the time I was heartbroken and crying my eyes out but looking back I have to laugh.....

I took my mom out to lunch after a long morning of canvassing for No on 8 and we were having a casual conversation. I felt light and happy and my mom seemed stress free (rare for her) so I decided to break the news. "Mom, I have something to tell you......I'm pregnant......JUST KIDDING, IM GAY!" omg, she looked at me with shock..."please tell me you are actually pregnant!"
She was pissed and we didn't talk for a few weeks. Everything's great now but it turns out she had been crossing her fingers for a grandkid for awhile! Sorry Mom!

Just a little bit ago I was going through the favorites I had saved on my YouTube channel and came across this one.  It's one of my favorites by Sean Chapin.  Take a couple of minutes to watch it.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

 

I'm Leon Velasco. My coming out story was after age 20 I had become a father of my daughter Jessica.

The Ellen DeGeneres show was going to show the episode of her (Ellen) coming out in the airport. I wanted to make it as though she was speaking for me. I had my mother and my grandmother sitting in front of the TV watching it and all the while they kept asking why they had to watch this show. I was anxiously waiting for the scene to pop up and kepth telling them that there was a message behind it. Once the scene was coming up I told them to pay attention to this particular part. Then it happened, the words that I was waiting for them to hear that took what seemed forever, "I'm Gay"! Both my mom and grandmother looked at eachother and then back at me. I'd like to say that everything ended with hugs and a tinker tape parade but the truth is; we (including siblings) hardly spoke for an enitre year.

Its been several years now and I can truely say that my family has made big strides in accepting the fact that my homosexuality does not mean the end of the world. Yes, I do drag on occassions and yes, I try to do my part in protests; but it doesn't take up my entire sense of being. That is what I think my family was fearing would happen; become this limp wristed, flaming fem, that over pronounces the 'S', and fears getting my hands dirty. Not that it's a bad thing (no offense), but that just does not suit me.

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I've known I was gay since I was young. In elementary school I mentioned a crush on a close friend and my very catholic grandmother told me it was just a phase that little girl's go through, that I would "get over it." So I spent the majority of my childhood attempting to deny my feelings for every cute girl I saw. I dove headfirst into about 20 straight relationships--the longest of which lasted just over a year, the shortest 5 days. In every one of these I knew something was missing (or maybe it was that there was something there that shouldn't be).

When I made a MySpace my freshman year of high school, I would secretly add lesbians and flirt with them all day long, then go out for dinner with my boyfriend. After a horrific break-up with the person I am proud to say was my last boyfriend, I decided to actually meet one of these MySpace girls. Her name was Kaila, my red-headed water-polo-playing Spice-Girl-singing absolutely-gorgeous Kaila. A week of our secret love went by when I decided it was time to introduce her to my mom.

At this point I am 19, I have known I was gay for about 15 years and have been keeping a secret of it for just as long. My stomach was in knots as I started to explain to my mom. "Mom, this is my friend Kaila. We're going out on a date tonight." Annoying dramatic pause. "She's my girlfriend." I was pretty sure I was going to faint. Then she just smiled and told us to have fun. When I asked her about her reaction a few months later her exact words were: "Honey, I knew you were gay before you could walk." Thanks Mom!

 

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Visit Jacob's blog here.... Jacob Woods Blog

         I sat inside my house bored out of my mind. It was something that I did often on the weekends as a stared aimlessly into the computer waiting for some game to actually intrigue me. Popping balloons and matching colors was more of a waste of time than watching SpongeBob by myself on Nickelodeon. Word games and hangman as well as that stupid fishy game where you always get eaten by all the damn bigger fish just began to piss me off after awhile. I started to yell at the computer, “Piece of mother beepingly beep beep bleep!” I am not sure why but no matter how much I would swear at the stupid mouse for not working, the stupid computer for freezing, and the computer gods for spiting me, I would only manage to get more pissed off.

        In order to prevent my workout to occur while sitting I decided to exit out of the stupid fishy game I had been playing and check the weather. I didn’t check it online though. I actually got my butt off the chair and went outside to find out it was gorgeous. Earlier in the morning before it got light out it had been storming but luckily it was late afternoon and it had turned out to be a bright sunshiny day. I had guessed it to be somewhere around seventy degrees and the sky had the big marshmallow clouds flowing slowly across it. They were the type of clouds that as a kid I would stare at with my mom and perhaps my dad and say hey it looks like a dinosaur.  

 Visit Jacob's blog here.... GoodAsGay

I sat inside my house bored out of my mind. It was something that I did often on the weekends as a stared aimlessly into the computer waiting for some game to actually intrigue me. Popping balloons and matching colors was more of a waste of time than watching SpongeBob by myself on Nickelodeon. Word games and hangman as well as that stupid fishy game where you always get eaten by all the damn bigger fish just began to piss me off after awhile. I started to yell at the computer, “Piece of mother beepingly beep beep bleep!” I am not sure why but no matter how much I would swear at the stupid mouse for not working, the stupid computer for freezing, and the computer gods for spiting me, I would only manage to get more pissed off.

In order to prevent my workout to occur while sitting I decided to exit out of the stupid fishy game I had been playing and check the weather. I didn’t check it online though. I actually got my butt off the chair and went outside to find out it was gorgeous. Earlier in the morning before it got light out it had been storming but luckily it was late afternoon and it had turned out to be a bright sunshiny day. I had guessed it to be somewhere around seventy degrees and the sky had the big marshmallow clouds flowing slowly across it. They were the type of clouds that as a kid I would stare at with my mom and perhaps my dad and say hey it looks like a dinosaur.  

 

I have a couple different stories about coming out, but this one is the most concrete...This was about two years ago in the summer of 2008. I had just broken up with my girlfriend of that past year and a half and was ready to start living my life the way that I had wanted. Growing up as an identical twin meant that my life was always shared by someone else and I sort of felt like I was half of a person. I had just graduated college and as a present for myself decided to book a trip to California to visit a guy who would have been the closest thing to a boyfriend I had had. My brother knew that this guy and I had been romantic, but he was under the impression that I was cured and into girls.

I spent a week in Fresno with this guy, and during my trip ended up meeting someone named Tony. I fell hard for Tony. I really only spent a couple hours with him, but holy hell did he make an impact.

I flew back to Philadelphia shattered. All I could think about was Tony. I finally felt complete, but he was fading farther away as the plane made it from one coast to the other. In the blink of an eye I was back at work and into my usual routine. Tony and I started to talk every night/day on the phone and I quickly set another trip to go see him in Fresno. The trip came and went and I found myself head over heels in love.

Back home, my family and I were up in the mountains of PA at our cabin soaking in the last bit of summer. Everyone was asleep besides my twin brother and I, its 3am in the morning and we're hammered. Both of us were outside by the fire looking at the stars and talking when we looked at one another, smiled and decided it was a great time for a hug. When we embraced I announced (again) to my brother that I was gay at the very same time he was saying how happy he was that I wasn't gay. (Thick people in my family I'll tell you ). We both stepped back in surprise at what the other one had just said. After the awkwardness had dissipated we were able to talk and I told him about Tony and how in love I was. My twin was receptive, but upset at the same time.

It took maybe two days for him and I to start vibing as normal again, but soon he was becoming my biggest ally! He would come out to people for me, stand up to others in my family and tell everyone how great I was and how proud of me he was. I was so scared that I was going to lose him as my best friend, but knew that he needed to know the truth. Because of his acceptance, my coming out has been remarkable. I am beyond thankful to have him in my life. 

Well, last week speculation abounded about who would be coming out of the closet this week, and it's now been revealed that it's Country Singer Chely Wright, who calls her revelation "magical".

Read more here...

 

Although there's been plenty of bad press in recent past, you can now chalk up the Boy Scouts of America as another shamed American Institution, at least in terms of the "purity" they claim to represent.

The Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America regarding a court decision from 7 years ago. A judge decided in 2003 that the Boy Scouts could no longer lease land from the city of San Diego for $1 a year. The agreement violated federal laws that prohibit the government from promoting religion. The Boy Scouts have consistently claimed that they are not a religious organization, although the organization believes in God and makes their members swear an oath to serve in duty to God. Yet another group that believes they are above laws requiring the separation of church and state. Consistently in America, religious groups are no longer content with their freedom to practice their religion, they are now challenging the boundaries of their beliefs on a regular basis.

That's just the beginning. As if following in the footsteps of the Catholic Church, a court has ordered the Boy Scouts of America to pay 18.5 million dollars in the case of a man who was molested by a troop leader the Boy Scouts organization kept files on as a known pedophile. In fact, for the first time, the Boy Scouts of America has been forced to reveal their "secret files". Known also as the "perversion files", they've been kept by the organization for more than 70 years. The problem is, just as the Catholic Church continues to do, finding that someone is suspected of being a pedophile is not enough for even the Boy Scouts to take immediate action. Had they done so, Kerry Lewis, the man who brought the current suit, would not have been molested. A jury awarded him 1.4 million in compensatory damages.

News organizations, including the New York Times, are attempting to gain access to the secret files, which were shown only to the lawyers and the jury in this case.

Read more here...  and here...

 

 

I moved from a small town in Northwest Tennessee to sunny California last March, in hopes that I could find a place to have a life.  A place where I could walk down the street without fear of a brick being thrown at my head or a cross burning in my front yard.  Some of you may think that things like that don’t happen anymore, but I am here to tell you, they do.  What does this have to do with “coming out?”  Let me tell you...

Last year, as I walked in the Fresno Pride Parade with my new friends, I heard an MC make a statement that almost made me laugh.  “Look at this group from Porterville.  We’re so proud of them.  If you think it’s hard coming out in Fresno, try coming out in a town with a population of only 50,000.”  When I came out, the county (not just the city) had a population of less than 10,000.  When I moved to California last year, I was living in a town with a population of 874 people in a county with 7988 people (as of the 2000 census).  Ladies and gentleman, I was the local “gay boy.”  Back there, being gay can be a death sentence.  I don’t know how many of you personally know someone who has been a victim of a hate crime and killed for their sexuality, but I have known several.

I’ll tell you my story in a moment, but since they can no longer tell theirs, I’d like to take the time to tell you for them.  (I’ll exclude last names.)  Joe, who became Josephine, lived his life as a woman from the time he graduated high school until his death 10 years later.  Everyone in town was aware that Josephine was once Joe, and most people avoided her for fear of catching “the gay.”  There were however, many people who taunted and beat her on a regular basis.  Josephine’s employer fired her because people refused to shop in the store while she was employed there.  In turn, she lost her vehicle and home, and eventually came to live under a bridge near the edge of town.  In the winter of 1989, Josephine was found beaten to death under that bridge.  I won’t get into details, but I will say her funeral was closed casket.  No one ever spoke of her again.

Well my coming out story started July 2nd 2004.   I was pissed at my husband because he was cheating on me with a so called friend of mine for 5 years.  I found out by reading his mail he accidently sent home instead of his moms.  He was stationed in Egypt with the National Guard!  Anyways I was pissed so I decided I was going to kiss my best friend, Susan Martorano. She had been gay for about 10 years prior to this.  So I kissed her!

She pushed me back and told me "We can't do this! You're married and you're straight!" I told her "Oh yes I can he's cheating on me why can't I cheat on him?"

So one thing led to another and I liked it a lot.  We have been together ever since!  We got married on Oct. 31st 2008 and are very happy together!  When I told my mom and friends they told me "Well it's about time! We all knew you were gay!" So that's my coming out story!
 

Robin Martorano