Alright, let’s see what we have today. First up, an amazing story from the world of soccer. Fans were shouting racial slurs at a player, so the entire time left the pitch.
This is an awesome job. The benefits are pretty amazing:
I think I linked to it before, but the House GOP killed the Violence Against Women Act because this year, it added three extra groups: immigrants, Native Americans and the LGBT community. So yes, they can agree to protect women if they’re white and straight. But otherwise, nope.
Alright, let’s see what we have today. First up, today marks a congress of firsts. Check out the list here.
And let me just say how much I love the Vice President:
But as a reminder, the last GOP controlled house let the Defense of Women act inspire, while simultaneously refusing to vote on Hurricane Sandy relief. Assholes is the only correct word.
First up, there is a new trailer for Oz, the Great and Powerful that went along with new year’s. I’m pretty excited for it:
And this is something I had never thought of before. It can be illegal and punishable by death, either legally or by custom, depending on your religion in many parts of the world. But it can also be punishable by death if you’re atheist:
Belgian newspapers are making an interesting point about engagement:
I’m not a legal scholar by a long shot, but even to me the ruling sounds a bit fishy. What I took away from it (and please correct me if I’m wrong) is that even though the BSA discriminates, and in this case it was determined they do based on religious principles, since that is not their main operational concern, the city can give them a lower rent, at the cost of taxpayers.
I guess I’m a bit torn. Here in Pa., there are massive tax breaks for (oil) companies coming in to help create jobs (that’s what we’ll go with, yeah). A non-profit isn’t creating that many jobs. Yes, the services they provide to the community and the youth of the community are valuable, but how do you measure that against other non-profits.
If it’s just a sense of tradition, that’s not a reason at all to give out a tax break, and again, who gets to decide what’s a tradition?
Like I said, I don’t understand legal cases like this, but it’s still a shame to see taxpayer money going to help fund discrimination.
One of the causes I’ve always been interested in, is the ban on LGBT blood donation. Which, if anyone knows me, is kind of funny. I’ve only successfully given blood once, and it was an ordeal.
The six other times I tried, I couldn’t fill the bag, and that was after about half an hour of poking and needle sticking trying to find a suitable vein. Heaven help me when I have to get IV’s at the hospital (which is something I never want to have to relive).
But anyway, the ban is based on the idea that LGBT persons are more likely to have HIV and other diseases, that instead of just testing the blood, like they do for all donations anyway, to just ban them from giving from the get go. And with the need for blood always seemingly outpacing donations, it seems dumb, and unjustified.
A little noticed Mexican health norm first approved in August and then published in the country’s regulatory Official Federation Diary on October 26th has gone into effect today essentially doing away with a two-decade ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men….
The old norm (NOM 003-SSA2) explicitly banned gay and bisexual men from donating blood based on their “practices” and their “increased probability of acquiring HIV or hepatitis infection”.
The new norm (NOM 253) eliminates specific bans on gay and bisexual men and instead bans blood donations from people with HIV or hepatitis and their partners and people who engage in “risky sexual practices” regardless of their sexual identity.
If American is ever to lift their ban, I think I would certainly try to give blood. Who knows, maybe things have changed in my arms enough that I could be a donor without only getting half a bag and then stopping.
It seems like such a weird thing, and such a small thing, but it’s all a part of the fight for equality.
2012 was a big year, for a lot of reasons. And in the LGBT community, we have a lot to celebrate.
Towleroad has 150 “game-changing” moments of the year, from the sitting president endorsing marriage equality to engagements, the full repeal of DADT and so much more.
Gay film make Ryan James Yezak put together an end of the year video. It covers all news and pop culture, but is in his unique style (seizure warning, seriously. I tend not to like much of what he does because of it, but this I really liked):
Of course for me, I finally began living my life to the fullest and more honestly. I certainly have a ways to go, but I’m excited for what 2013 will have in store for me.
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you had a wonderful celebration bringing in 2013.
Now, first up, I’ve talked about this before with some friends, and we all still have a problem believing that it’s a thing. The Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve was robbed of $18 million worth of syrup. Go ahead and read that a few times and just let your mind be blown. Only in Canada.
The NYT has a great, long-form piece about the avalanche at Tunnel Creek. It’s a great story, and the way it is presented is just amazing as well. Some people are saying the ads break it up too much, but I didn’t find them that intrusive, honestly.
“If roads were collapsing all across the United States, killing dozens of drivers, we would surely see that as a moment to talk about what we could do to keep roads from collapsing. If terrorists were detonating bombs in port after port, you can be sure Congress would be working to upgrade the nation’s security measures. If a plague was ripping through communities, public-health officials would be working feverishly to contain it.
“Only with gun violence do we respond to repeated tragedies by saying that mourning is acceptable but discussing how to prevent more tragedies is not. But that’s unacceptable. As others have observed, talking about how to stop mass shootings in the aftermath of a string of mass shootings isn’t too soon.’ It’s much too late.”
And even though it was hidden for a while, just remember, giving tax breaks to the wealthy doesn’t actually create jobs. It just gives them lower taxes.
First up, today’s title comes from this song (which, sadly, every version of it I’ve ever seen mangles the line I mention above):
So let’s rip this Band-Aid off: I’m gay.
Raise your hand if you’re surprised. No one? Okay then, moving on.
Please understand that I didn’t tell anyone out of a love for those around me. The BSA is so connected (I have yet to go to an event for my new employer where I haven’t run into a former camp staff kid or volunteer) that I never wanted anyone to have to lie for me. It may seem selfish, but I promise, it was out of care for everyone around me, it was my struggle and no one should have had to be put in that position.
And it’s a great relief to be able to say that without being fired.
Honestly, it’s not a big deal. But I can do some good, I always have to remember that while human sexuality is private, coming out is important, if for nothing else than addressing the public side of human relationships and sexuality, raising awareness, putting a human face to a “foreign” idea. I tend to play everything close to the chest, I’m a very private person, so again, no disrespect meant, I just kept this to myself, not only as a way to keep myself safe, but also as a way to ensure I could keep paying the bills and remain employed.
There is so much that is public that no one thinks about, that for years, I had to guard in fear: weekend plans, dates, pictures of significant others, facebook likes and posts, so much that is taken for granted that seems innocent enough, but was a minefield for me to navigate. And now I don’t have to do that anymore, you can just be with the complete Mike, and maybe you can put a face to the LGBT community now.
Working for the BSA for five years was hard. And that’s probably the understatement of the year. It was emotionally draining, exhausting and heartbreaking. Each and every day. I was one of their best employees, and I enjoyed what I did. But for my own sanity, health and safety, I needed to be in a place that doesn’t discriminate. I hope the policy changes, and I hope I can change some people’s mind about it. And we need to keep in mind, the policy needs to change, not for me, but for the youth that are being told they aren’t worthy. Being told they aren’t equal. Being told they are broken. Institutionalized discrimination hurts children, make no mistake. I’m bolstered by the stories I’ve heard, the people I’ve worked with, and the lives people have made me a part of. And they’re all worth fighting for. I’m tired. No, I’m exhausted. But the fight for equality rages on, and I intend to help. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Moving forward (also, I keep writing that lately, I’m blaming Luke Ravenstahl. And his drinking game), I’ll be listening to the advice of one Captain Malcolm Reynolds:
“I aim to misbehave”
And by misbehave, I mean try to make the world a better place. Two items:
I wrote a large post for the BSA’s internal Idea Forum (IdeaSource), hoping to provide some insight as to why they need to change, not only because they will quickly find themselves irrelevant, but also because of the real harm their discrimination causes to children.I’ll be posting it for public view (and hopefully getting it in front of the people who can make a difference) via item number two:
I kept a blog of my experiences working for the BSA, what it was like to hide a large part of myself out of self-preservation as well as commentary about the fight for equality.But don’t worry, I wrote it, so there’s a lot of humor, irreverence and fun links involved too.But a lot of it is raw emotion, and heartbreaking for me to even write.I’ll be going back and editing the posts (grammar wasn’t high on my priority list as I wrote and I have to decide how to deal with the hatred and bullying I was put through), and releasing them.If you’d like to follow along, I’ll be posting them under the heading “The King of Spades.”I hope they provide some perspective, and if others stumble upon them, some hope that things can get better for those in the LGBT community employed by organizations with rooted discrimination.
Both of those items will probably ruffle some feathers, to put it mildly. But what’s the point of having the influence and connections that I do if I can’t try to make the world a better place. Maybe I can change some minds, or even convince others to add their voices to the fight for equality. Besides, if I wasn’t ruffling feathers for the greater good, I wouldn’t be my parent’s son, now would I?
And you’ll notice I posted this on December 21, 2012 (if I did it right, although I know what’s wrong, I can’t change the time zone, so sometimes I’m shooting in the dark). I couldn’t pass up the irony of the “end of the world,” “Mayan prophecy,” “Armageddon,” “new era” and “OMG Mike just ruined Christmas” date. See? I still have that strange sense of humor, that’s not going anywhere.
And to everyone I couldn’t tell in person, I’m sorry. I just didn’t have that much time and I want to get on living my life, and again, it’s a small facet of who I am, not a big deal, I’m moving on. Chances are though, if I didn’t get a chance to talk to you in person, you’re really important to me. That sounds antithetical, I know, but the stakes are so much higher for those closest to me, and I’m scared. I certainly tried, and chickened out more than a few times, but that’s my fault, not yours. But I’ll be talking about all that in the blog, not to worry. And besides, this helps to boost my ego and makes me think I have a large blog readership. Right? And besides, I’m a much better writer than an extemporaneous speaker.
I hope you read along, I talk about a lot of different things and it’s a fun journey that we can make together. I could go on, but I run the risk of already losing my brevity (I know, too late), but as a teaser, I talk about stereotypes, beer, Pride, hockey, ENDA, camp, and much, much more. I have a lot of caveats to everything above, and a lot to discuss, so please, stick around, I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.
So for now, just know that you’re honestly important to me and a part of my story.
