Articles by: Thomas Waters

Can You Change Everything for the LGBT Community?

Charelene can take her story to the President, what is stopping you (or anyone??) from telling your own story? If we all follow that example, it certainly will change everything for the LGBT community.

June 21, 2010 Comments are Disabled Activism

The Bob Etheridge Moment

More than the specifics here- what Pam called “clear-cut,” what does this say about politics and the changing role of politician? What does it mean when a public officials has to be, at all times, on guard against attack (even of a digital nature.)

June 17, 2010 1 comment general

Update: Cumberland Valley GSA

Last week, I posted about how a school district was slow acting at reinstating a GSA, and what looked like a conservative board member’s attempts to keep the group from being formed. Today, I saw this update. The GSA was reinstated without any issue, however: Although there was no discussion from the board, the issue did get some attention during the invitational public comment before the meeting. The father of one of the students organizing[Read More…]

June 17, 2010 Comments are Disabled general

McDonald’s Is A Christian Kinda Place!

This US stance isn’t overtly anti-gay. They aren’t saying, “Gays- we don’t want you.” but they are saying that the only “good gay” from a marketing perspective, is an invisible one. We are happy to take your money and use you to promote our image across the globe, but we are going to claim that Christian values are more important than you.

June 16, 2010 1 comment Activism, general

The Prop 8 Trial: What’s Next

The right to fully recognized civil marriage stands as the single most significant symbol of the way gays and lesbians are treated as second class citizens. Every way that this is articulated helps move all LGBT issues forward by focusing the attention on that central question: does the majority of voters have a right to restrict any other group of people to second class and unequal status?

June 16, 2010 1 comment general, Same-Sex Marriage

Are there Gays in the GOP?

“You and the radical homosexual community want to harass supporters of REAL marriage,” Steve Scheffler wrote in an e-mail to Fred Karger, a longtime civil rights advocate in California who is gay and has announced he is running for president. “. . . I will work overtime to help ensure that your political aspirations are aborted right here in Iowa.” via Iowa GOP committeeman to gay candidate: I’ll sink you | Des Moines Register Staff[Read More…]

June 14, 2010 3 comments general

Western PA Rep Votes Against DADT Repeal

Note: This is one of many Western PA reps that voted against the DADT repeal. I will be updating this post to list all of them. This is from Get Equal PA, a group calling for non-violent civil disobedience direct action to promote LGBT activism. If you follow mu blog, you already know that face-to-face meetings or personal letters (not emails) sent to legislators is the typoe of action I most often support. I like[Read More…]

June 14, 2010 Comments are Disabled Activism, general

Pride: Thanks to My Readers

I try, sometimes more successfully than others, to raise a different perspective and ask questions others aren’t asking, and writing over the past few months has shown me over and over again, how that is both working, as well as how much more I can do to be clear with what I’m saying and through provocative posts prompt meaningful thinking and exchange.

June 13, 2010 Comments are Disabled Gay Pride, general

Hands Palm-to-Palm for Pride

I’m especially touched by the wording here, as it suggests a Buddhist mind set. Here, we are talking about the Pittsburgh Pride walk instead of a Pride march. A walking meditation is a part of many Buddhist’s daily practice, and in this way brings their practice to Pride as well as takes Pride back into a daily practice. Walking, accurately describes the practical activity too, and suggests taking a slower pace, and using that time to be very present in the action of being a part of the whole experience.

June 12, 2010 Comments are Disabled Gay Pride, general

DADT Before ENDA= WAIT WAIT and NOTHING Changes

The repeal does not allow openly gay and lesbians to serve their country. The repeal simply returns the law to what it was before DADT.

June 12, 2010 Comments are Disabled general