Today marks my official resignation from the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh Board of Directors. I have contemplated the resignation for a full year, and back in June officially announced my decision, and set the date of resignation as today. This date was selected to align with the last day of our ARSP volunteer’s placement with Delta. I have been on the board for a bit over three years and have appreciated my involvement with the[Read More…]
There is only one way to understand how some could refuse a woman the right to make choices about her own body, especially in a case of rape. That is to see the woman’s only value and role in life is to have a full uterus, no matter who the father of the fetus may be. The only thing of importance is that there is a fetus. This mindset isn’t that big of a stretch where, over history, a woman has been considered property much like a slave. Not really like a slave, but an actual slave since the woman was understood to be the property of the husband
A third conclusion I would draw is that some pastors (not all) condone hate speech and violence against those with whom you disagree. Sometimes this is couched in or defended as simply preaching from the Bible, but Leisner’s comments can not be misconstrued as reading scripture. They are 100% cultural criticism.
While this battle isn’t really about us, here we are right in the middle of it, and truly fighting for our lives and for our equality, and we better keep fighting hard, even if it isn’t about us. But I think this distinction is crucial, because it means that even if the abuses against us are done with the intention of harming us personally, we don’t have to take it personally. For example, it isn’t about me, Thomas Waters. It is about some group of folks trying to force their rigid ideas upon everyone else. If I don’t take it personally, I don’t need to defend myself, and who I am. I don’t have to prove that I have a right to be. I can focus all my energy into fighting for Equality, because everyone deserves to be treated equally.
Not everyone will agree that we lost, and truly, there is no one refereeing who designates the winner and loser, but it is extremely easy to make a case that says we lost the battle over chicken. Right wing nut, Matt Barber, goes much farther, suggesting that our loss set the gay rights movement way back 20 years. I don’t think that is true, but I do believe what should have been a real positive[Read More…]
they kiss just like we do! Brotherhood!
This morning I came across an interesting opinion post which attempts to explain why Lady Gag’s song, “Born This Way” is a poor anthem for the LGBTQ community. Actually Alex Gabriel never defines who the anthem is bad for- he never articulates the community he is talking to or for. of sexuality as inborn erase those of us, like me, whose orientation isn’t simple, and it’s ultimately authorizing to see queer people as different by[Read More…]
The linked article is such an awesome read! Two small clips are here: When I tore open the envelope it took my breath away, much like seeing my reflection every morning — the growing pronouncement of my jaw, the square sideburns, the scruff on my cheek, the pecs and biceps ballooning steadily with each workout — I tear up sometimes, I’m so floored by the rightness of it all. I held my birth certificate, my[Read More…]
Now, we have this tug-of-war type struggle for or against a fast food business chain, and in that battle, I’m afraid the important stuff will get lost. So, here is what I find important to the issue:
I’ve been following the Chick-fil-A controversy this week, and wondering what I wanted to write about it. I feel as if I can’t determine what my real ‘story” is in relation to it.Most of what we see out there is a mixture of righteous indignation which is completely deserved, and bullying, which I’m not so sure about. That’s where I’ll get myself into trouble, so pretend I didn’t just say that last part. But then[Read More…]