Reasonably Logical

Just sharing the news for those who haven’t heard. Not too surprising really; something like this had to happen somewhere eventually. Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like anyone was badly hurt. Things could have been much much worse. None-the-less, my best wishes go out to Father Braxton and the youth at the shelter. If you feel like making a difference, I’m sure that Carmen’s Place could any donation you may be able to spare.

Violence Comes Uncomfortably Close to a Gay Shelter
By COLIN MOYNIHAN
Published: July 14, 2008

Antarctica base gets 16,500 condoms before darkness
Mon Jun 9, 1:24 PM ET

I thought this article was pretty damn funny. I’m pleased that they’re handling the problem intelligently though. I don’t know why, but it sorta surprises me that they’re able to. It really shouldn’t; maybe I’m just getting cynical in my “old age”. Or maybe its just that anything that involves sexuality that the US government touches gets f’ed up. Nah, can’t be that…

Couple bequeaths fund to help gay youth, fight AIDS
By DON CUDDY
Standard-Times staff writer
June 09, 2008 6:00 AM

I have the utmost respect for these gentlemen and their effort to make a difference even after they themselves have passed on. Personally, I hope to make a difference in the world before I die, but if I can’t or maybe even if I can, I want to do something similar to this.

For those who haven’t heard, the California Supreme Court struck down a law banning same-sex marriage in CA. Thus CA becomes the second state in the union to allow gay folks to get married. Already opposing groups are trying to organize constitutional amendments at both state and federal levels, but I don’t really see that happening. Yahoo! Now if only I hadn’t just given up my CA residency. Oh well, I’m in no need of a marriage license just yet.

The other big piece of news I doubt many folks have heard about. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a decision which could very well be the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Essentially, the ruling said that just being gay isn’t a determent to troop moral. (Duh!) Instead, the military will have to prove that each individual soldier dismissed under the policy has individually caused harm to troop moral or military readiness. Of the two, this may very well be the more important in the long run.

Here are two news articles related to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” case. Read the top one first, its much more clear. The second one is somewhat confusingly written.

Federal court rules against military gays policy
GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
Thu May 22, 7:52 AM ET

Court: Gay officer can pursue lawsuit against military
CNN, May 22, 2008

I think I posted something about this case last year. I’m glad to see this one come to a “happy” ending at least. Here’s one gay kid that Iran won’t be hanging.

According to the article, Iran has executed more than 4,000 gays and lesbians since 1979. Its sure as hell one country I’m never going to visit.

Gay Iranian granted asylum in UK
A gay Iranian teenager who said he could be executed if he was sent home has been given asylum in Britain.
BBC News

My first reaction to the article below was somewhere between “Are you kidding me?” and “Oy vey!”, but once I started thinking about I realized there’s more to it. This - and as much as I hate to say it the American Idol like shows of the last few years - have really starting changing how ‘talent’ is recognized. It used to be a studio would go out and recruit talent. Anyone who didn’t make the cut, didn’t make it. It didn’t matter how good you were, if you pissed off the studio you were sh*t out of luck. With this new style of porn the studio has no real say. If the audience thinks someone is good, they get paid. That totally changes the power dynamic and puts control in the hands of the consumers and actors. Now take the fact that the porn industry has historically led the rest of the economy by three to five years, then think about the implications of *that*.

Do It Yourself! Amateur Porn Stars Make Bank
Web Site Offers Real People Chance to Make Real Money by Making Pornography
By RUSSELL GOLDMAN, ABC News
Jan. 22, 2008

Just got done reading the article below. On one level, cool - it’ll be nice to be able to settle *that* argument conclusively. On the other hand, I couldn’t help dreading the idea of a gay/anti-gay drug. Am I the only one flashing back to the 3rd X-Men movie? You know someone is going to propose it for real at some point. Why do I think I know what radically anti-gay fundies are going to be proposing in a few years?

One question for those of you who actually read my blog: (there are some) Would you take an anti-gay drug? Or for that matter a gay-for-a-day drug? If so, why? Why not?

Study finds gay gene in fruit flies
SUMMARY: Scientists have found that a gene can turn on and off homosexual impulses in fruit flies.
12/11/07, YahooNews

Sometimes I think we really should bomb these f*ckers back into the stone age. No wait, they never left!

As you can no doubt tell, I’m slightly pissed off about this.

Iran Executes 21 Year Old Accused Of Gay Sex When He Was 13
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 5, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET

State Murder for Sex at 13 in Iran
The Courageous Iranian Journalist Who Covered the Trial Speaks to Gay City News.
By: DOUG IRELAND, Gay City News
12/06/2007

Not exactly new, but worth remembering none the less.

Gays should be hanged, says Iranian minister
Dominic Kennedy, The (UK) Times
November 13, 2007

I strongly suggest you read this article:
Prison guards disciplined for part in gay wedding ceremony for inmates
Katie Fretland | Sentinel Staff Writer
3:13 PM EDT, October 25, 2007

I’ll draw you’re attention to a couple of pieces:
- 1) The prison guards were disciplined for allowing a same-sex wedding. The article makes the point that same-sex weddings are not legal in Florida, but so what? Yeah, the prison doesn’t have to formally recognize it, but how does that make it illegal to have the wedding?
- 2) “It is highly inappropriate to correctional setting because it implies sexual relations, which are illegal in prison.” Excuse me, but how does getting married imply sexual relations? Or more accurately, how does it imply it for a lesbian couple, but not for heterosexuals? This is nothing but straight up homophobia.
- 3) Last but not least is the last line in the article: “The couple was split up by sending one to another institution.” This is nothing but mean spirited revenge and homophobia. I’m sorry, but that is exactly what it was. Grow up, people!

Frankly, I am seriously pissed off about this and hope it gets challenged in court. This is absolutely disgusting!