Volume One, Issue Five Friday March 16, 2012
Introduction from the Creator
Due to busy life, I didn't get to post on Thursday.
I hope you enjoy this week's issue of HOOSIER LGBTQ!
Flaming National Headlines
In the nation's first ruling of it's kind, an immigration judge in Houston ended Costa Rica native David Gonzalez's deportation process because of his marital status to another man. Gonzalez married American Mario Ramirez in California in 2008, and the couple has since moved to Texas. --The Advocate, EquallyWed.com
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslan has said he wishes the state legislature would stop pushing the so-called "Don't Say Gay Bill", which would ban any discussion or teaching about homosexuality in school, even though the legislation is being pushed by his own political party. --Human Rights Campaign
The OUT NYC hotel is a gay focused, straight-friendly urban resort which just opened this month. It is the first hotel of its kind in New York City, and possibly the world. --Reuters
On Tuesday, March 13 a gay couple in Dallas was hospitalized when 5 people beat them with baseball bats. In Washington D.C. on March 11 and 12, one gay man was shot and another beaten. A transgender woman was also attacked. --BigGayNews.com
Community News
There doesn't seem to be much to report as far as Indiana news, but check out The Rainbow Highlighter column on the right for lots of upcoming events!
IMO: Your License Plate Could Send You to Hell!
There's been talk about banning many specialty license plates in Indiana, including (and especially?) the one for IYG, or Indiana Youth Group, which supports GLBT youth. Right now this legislation seems to be stopped for now, and perhaps the legislators aren't just singling out gay-friendly plates and are honestly irritated by having too many organizations represented or something. But one of the things that annoys me most is that the sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Ed Soliday, withdrew the bill because he claimed that the whole issue had become "too politicized."
Dude, you work in politics.
I'm sick of people who use every excuse in the world to justify their actions instead of just saying what they really think and feel. I discussed this last week, too. If a politician thinks gay people are icky or hellbound, then they should just say so. And if a lawmaker is worried about election results and therefore wants to stay away from making any controversial decisions, they should admit it, too, and then tell us why they are even in politics in the first place.
Banning license plates, organizations, education, and even marriage is not going to eradicate homosexuality. We're here and we're queer, and all the ex-gay therapy and Bible bashing you can thump out has never, and will never, change that. It's time for all bigots to expand their narrow world-views.
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Volume One, Issue Four, March 9 2012
Volume One, Issue Four, Friday March 9, 2012
Introduction from the Creator
Due to technical difficulties, this week's issue is on Friday instead of Thursday. If there are any comments or suggestions, please feel free to let me know, either in the comments section at the end of this issue, or by emailing kimnflowers@yahoo.com.
I hope you enjoy this week's belated issue of HOOSIER LGBTQ! -- Kim Flowers
Flaming National Headlines
In Charles City County, VA a student was suspended, and claims it is because he is gay and wore high heels. The school's superintendent is investigating. --NBC12.com
"You Can Play" launched Sunday, March 4. This is an organization launched by Patrick Burke in an attempt to stop homophobia in the NHL. For more information, click here: http://www.youcanplayproject.org/ --Yahoo!
On March 18th, 46 members of a group called Courage are going to run the Los Angeles Marathon to raise money for LGBT rights. -- Human Rights Campaign
On March 3, in Chicago, an HIV/AIDS prevention and care group opened up the first homeless GLBT youth shelter in the Midwest. -- Windy City Times
Community News
INDIANAPOLIS, IN Bill SB 327, a bill that would drastically lower the number of specialty license plates in Indiana, in an effort by Republicans to ban plates for GLBT-friendly organizations such as Indiana Youth Group, was killed on Feb. 29. However, the legislative session ends on Friday March 9 and an effort may be made to revive this bill. --Indianapolis Star
IMO: Narrow-minded Lists
Last week I posted that the Minnesota for Marriage group has created a list as to why gay couples should not marry. Here is a recap:
1. Sex between a man and a woman has the unique capacity to create a child.
2. Pregnancy can occur regardless of whether the couple intends to create a child
or not.
3. The new human life that is created is vulnerable and needs the protection of
adults.
4. The man and woman who created the new life typically have the most interest in
and are best at protecting and guiding that child.
5. They agree that they will both be legally responsible for any child conceived during
the marriage.
6. Couples must work for decades together to raise a child from conception to
adulthood.
And now I would like to discuss why each of these "reasons" are narrow-minded excuses. Come on, if you believe because of your religion that being gay is wrong, just say so. But none of these reasons why make any sense. If you feel that being gay will turn your whole worldview upside down, just say so, but maybe the way you think about the world truly needs re-examined.
1. Marriage in it's current state of perfection was not created solely for child-raising. And even if it was, it was also originally a polygamist, arranged, daughter-selling and buying institution where women were treated like property. Let's not pretend we need to go back to some imaginary "good old days", where divorce was never an option and the men had concubines on the side. And of course we all know that some men and women are incapable of conceiving a child naturally. Should they be banned from marriage too? Moving on.
2. I'm not sure what the intention of this is statement is at all. Yes, some people become pregnant by accident. Some of these babies are unwanted or unable to be cared for by their natural parents; some are not. This seems to be more an argument for gay marriage than against. Since gay couples cannot get pregnant by accident, any child they bear or adopt will obviously be planned, and the child wanted and loved.
3. This implies that same-sex couples are not adults.
4. While I agree that the couple who creates a life are obviously the ones most interested in caring for the child, this can apply to same-sex couples as well. And think of all the children in foster care who long to be adopted. Many same-sex couples opt out of adoption because both parents cannot adopt the same child. I have a child of my own, born from donated sperm by a person I know, as opposed to an anonymous donor. I am thrilled and delighted that my child is in my life, but I also think that adoption is being overlooked as an option in this list, and that thousands of children could get good homes they otherwise would not have if marriage and adoption could be opened up to more GLBT couples.
5. Yes, parents of all kinds agree that they will be legally responsible for the child. My wife and I are currently going through a co-parent adoption process, in which my wife will be legally responsible for the well-being of our son for life.
6. This is perhaps the most insulting of the reasons, as it insinuates that same-sex couples do not have the fortitude to stay together for decades to raise a child.
As usual, these reasons are misguided and based on incorrect beliefs. Gay couples here are apparently people who do not stay together, cannot behave as adults, and would never be able to care for a child the way a straight couple would. These hollow and narrow-minded excuses do absolutely nothing to prove that gay marriage should not be allowed. And by focusing solely on the institution of child-raising, many more issues that come with marriage are completely ignored. What about taxes, insurance, hospital visitation rights and even end-of-life planning and care? If heterosexual marriage has been created solely for child-rearing, then none of these benefits should be offered to straight couples, either. Stop the games, and stop the ignorance. Just tell us you think gay people are icky drug-laden freaks. When I come home from work, my son runs up to me carrying a toy bat and wearing a plastic bucket on his head, yelling for joy. As a lesbian mother who considers myself married I am offended by Minnesota for Marriage's illogical list, and can't understand how anyone could look at it and say, "Oh, that makes sense." Because it doesn't.
Thanks for reading!
This week's Rainbow Highlighter: Show at Talbot Street March 15
Introduction from the Creator
Due to technical difficulties, this week's issue is on Friday instead of Thursday. If there are any comments or suggestions, please feel free to let me know, either in the comments section at the end of this issue, or by emailing kimnflowers@yahoo.com.
I hope you enjoy this week's belated issue of HOOSIER LGBTQ! -- Kim Flowers
Flaming National Headlines
In Charles City County, VA a student was suspended, and claims it is because he is gay and wore high heels. The school's superintendent is investigating. --NBC12.com
"You Can Play" launched Sunday, March 4. This is an organization launched by Patrick Burke in an attempt to stop homophobia in the NHL. For more information, click here: http://www.youcanplayproject.org/ --Yahoo!
On March 18th, 46 members of a group called Courage are going to run the Los Angeles Marathon to raise money for LGBT rights. -- Human Rights Campaign
On March 3, in Chicago, an HIV/AIDS prevention and care group opened up the first homeless GLBT youth shelter in the Midwest. -- Windy City Times
Community News
INDIANAPOLIS, IN Bill SB 327, a bill that would drastically lower the number of specialty license plates in Indiana, in an effort by Republicans to ban plates for GLBT-friendly organizations such as Indiana Youth Group, was killed on Feb. 29. However, the legislative session ends on Friday March 9 and an effort may be made to revive this bill. --Indianapolis Star
IMO: Narrow-minded Lists
Last week I posted that the Minnesota for Marriage group has created a list as to why gay couples should not marry. Here is a recap:
1. Sex between a man and a woman has the unique capacity to create a child.
2. Pregnancy can occur regardless of whether the couple intends to create a child
or not.
3. The new human life that is created is vulnerable and needs the protection of
adults.
4. The man and woman who created the new life typically have the most interest in
and are best at protecting and guiding that child.
5. They agree that they will both be legally responsible for any child conceived during
the marriage.
6. Couples must work for decades together to raise a child from conception to
adulthood.
And now I would like to discuss why each of these "reasons" are narrow-minded excuses. Come on, if you believe because of your religion that being gay is wrong, just say so. But none of these reasons why make any sense. If you feel that being gay will turn your whole worldview upside down, just say so, but maybe the way you think about the world truly needs re-examined.
1. Marriage in it's current state of perfection was not created solely for child-raising. And even if it was, it was also originally a polygamist, arranged, daughter-selling and buying institution where women were treated like property. Let's not pretend we need to go back to some imaginary "good old days", where divorce was never an option and the men had concubines on the side. And of course we all know that some men and women are incapable of conceiving a child naturally. Should they be banned from marriage too? Moving on.
2. I'm not sure what the intention of this is statement is at all. Yes, some people become pregnant by accident. Some of these babies are unwanted or unable to be cared for by their natural parents; some are not. This seems to be more an argument for gay marriage than against. Since gay couples cannot get pregnant by accident, any child they bear or adopt will obviously be planned, and the child wanted and loved.
3. This implies that same-sex couples are not adults.
4. While I agree that the couple who creates a life are obviously the ones most interested in caring for the child, this can apply to same-sex couples as well. And think of all the children in foster care who long to be adopted. Many same-sex couples opt out of adoption because both parents cannot adopt the same child. I have a child of my own, born from donated sperm by a person I know, as opposed to an anonymous donor. I am thrilled and delighted that my child is in my life, but I also think that adoption is being overlooked as an option in this list, and that thousands of children could get good homes they otherwise would not have if marriage and adoption could be opened up to more GLBT couples.
5. Yes, parents of all kinds agree that they will be legally responsible for the child. My wife and I are currently going through a co-parent adoption process, in which my wife will be legally responsible for the well-being of our son for life.
6. This is perhaps the most insulting of the reasons, as it insinuates that same-sex couples do not have the fortitude to stay together for decades to raise a child.
As usual, these reasons are misguided and based on incorrect beliefs. Gay couples here are apparently people who do not stay together, cannot behave as adults, and would never be able to care for a child the way a straight couple would. These hollow and narrow-minded excuses do absolutely nothing to prove that gay marriage should not be allowed. And by focusing solely on the institution of child-raising, many more issues that come with marriage are completely ignored. What about taxes, insurance, hospital visitation rights and even end-of-life planning and care? If heterosexual marriage has been created solely for child-rearing, then none of these benefits should be offered to straight couples, either. Stop the games, and stop the ignorance. Just tell us you think gay people are icky drug-laden freaks. When I come home from work, my son runs up to me carrying a toy bat and wearing a plastic bucket on his head, yelling for joy. As a lesbian mother who considers myself married I am offended by Minnesota for Marriage's illogical list, and can't understand how anyone could look at it and say, "Oh, that makes sense." Because it doesn't.
Thanks for reading!
This week's Rainbow Highlighter: Show at Talbot Street March 15
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