Peek-A-BOO!

I’m just popping in for a quick update. I want to thank those of you who have contacted me asking when I’ll start blogging again. Well, I still don’t have a computer and it’s difficult to maintain a blog using the library computer. So I don’t think I’ll resume my blog until I can afford one.

I’m doing well. No depression in sight for quite a long while. However, I have lost my “professional distance”, concerning patients. This means that I sympathize with them too much. Not a good thing when you’re a Nurses Aide. I could start crying and getting depressed again. I might have to switch careers. So I’m still working things out. I’m still battling the results of depression and reaction to the sudden deaths of my 3 relatives. I find that it’s easy to fall, but much harder to get up.

My MSW shrink seem to help some, but he is very limited. Some people told me about “tools” that my shrink would give me to help with depression. But 98% of the time he just tells me to get out and about, also to make real time new friends. (I lost friends when I quit my job.) I have to get a new shrink due to a change in my health insurance. Maybe that’s a good thing. He is easy to talk to though.

I’m doing good health wise. I’ve maintained my weight loss of about 50 lbs, but have not lost any more. I have to get back to it now that the weather is nice. Today will be a beautiful day, 80 degrees (27c) and sunny, a good day for a brisk walk.

Same-sex marriage passed in New York State! Hallelujah! We became the sixth state to do so and are the largest by far. They expect same-sex marriages to double in the country! I would love to see the first gay couple get married in my state. But I’m sure I’m not the only one. I would love to say that it ends discrimination, but some jerk in line was spouting off the other day. He said “next people will be marrying animals”. Also, “in the old testament they killed gays”. One lady with children spoke up and said, “Do you have to talk about it here?” She was obviously upset. I never know how to respond to prejudice. At lest someone spoke up. Others had disgusted looks on their faces.

Bravo to Republican Senator Jim Alesi (Rochester area) for being the first Republican to vote for same-sex marriage!

Well, see you later folks!

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Related post: I'll be back in Spring?

Random Chick Goes Gay Crazy!

My Twitter buddy Random Chick came up with two good posts about gays. I hope that you'll take time to read them. The posts are...

That's So Gay

That's So Gay - Part Deux

Congratulations! Gay marriage allowed in Washington D.C.!

Congatulations to all the newlyweds in Washington D.C. !

We now have six states that allow same-sex wedding ceremonies. D.C. joins "Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont in performing same-sex marriages. New Hampshire will begin performing them in January."

"Same-sex marriage was approved last year in California, but the practice later was struck down by a voter referendum."

Click here to read the more.

Sinnerviewer's interesting conversation with gay bashers

"God hates fags". You've probably seen a hate group on T.V. carrying those signs. Well, my blog buddy Sinnerviewer had an interesting conversation with two gay bashers. She did a beautiful job! Pop on over to her blog and check out her post about the conversation!

A Conversation with the Lost

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2 More States Pass Gay Marriage!

It's been a good week for the gay community as two more states pass laws to allow same-sex marriage, doubling the number.

The surprise came about a week ago when Iowa, a state in the heartland, changed its law. "The supreme court declared unconstitutional a law denying marriage for same-sex couples. New York-based advocacy group Lambda Legal filed the Iowa lawsuit."

"It's very important for people across the country,' says Lambda's Kevin Cathcart, "to realize this is not something that only happens on the East Coast or the West Coast, but that actually gay people actually have and deserve equal rights across the country."

Vermont just became the fourth state to allow same-sex marriage when its legislature overturned a veto by its governor.

Iowa and Vermont join, Massachusetts and Connecticut, to allow same-sex marriage in it's legislature.

"New Hampshire and New Jersey permit civil unions. California, Oregon and Washington allow domestic partnerships, which extend many of the benefits of marriage."

A recent CBS News poll found that 33% of Americans support same-sex marriage, an increase of 22% back in 2004. 41% of those under 45 support it while those over 65 show less support.

You may wonder if same sex marriage will ever be recognized by all 50 states?

"Even if public opinion keeps moving in the direction, it's sort of slowing-moving," says Joe Matthews of the New America Foundation. "It's not something that's going to happen in a couple of years. It's gonna take 10 years or 20 years before you see broad recognition of same-sex marriage."

"The day when the whole country embraces same-sex marriage may indeed be may be a long way off, David observes: Twenty-nine states have voted for a constitutional ban. And Californians recently voted to eliminate same sex marriages, though that vote is being contested in the courts."

New York states Gov. David Paterson recently said he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in N.Y. YAHOO!

Paterson has been an outspoken supporter of marriage equality for same-sex couples. However, the Legislature bill would have to pass both houses. In 2007 former Gov. Spitzer's marriage bill stalled in the Senate. Now with the Senate in Democratic hands, gay-rights groups are more optimistic of the bill's passage this year.


Sources - CBS NEWS: Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Inevitable?
ithacajournal.com: Gov. Paterson to re-introduce same-sex marriage bill

One More Small Step For Lesbians! (LGBT)

Congratulations Ellen Degeneres on your Cover Girl Commercial...and Thanks!

Please Vote NO on Proposition 8

Ellen DeGeneres Urges Californians to Vote No on Prop. 8 (27 sec.)




Added Later: PFLAG: Explanation of Proposition 8

Matthew Shepard, it's been 10 years

"Ten years after his brutal murder, those who knew him best -- and those who learned of him only at the end -- remember that week in October and reflect on the legacy of Matthew Shepard.

On Wednesday, October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard was found tied to a fence on the Wyoming prairie, barely alive, his skull fractured and his brain stem crushed. Comatose, he was taken first to a Laramie hospital, then to a better-equipped one in Fort Collins, Colo., where he died five days later. We may never know what his killers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, intended to do when they first approached Shepard at Laramie’s Fireside Lounge. We only know that, whatever their intention, they ended up murdering him.

Almost instantly, his death became a flash point in this country’s reckoning with gay people, and the cute, clean-cut 21-year-old became a symbol of the ravages of intolerance. The tragedy sparked vigils around the world and led to federal hate-crimes legislation that bears Shepard’s name, currently pending in Congress. (Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has promised to sign the bill if elected.)

Shepard’s impact can also be felt in the work of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, headed by his mother, Judy, whom we spoke with for the following oral history -- along with friends and Laramie residents; the police chief who oversaw the investigation into the murder; and artists influenced by that tumultuous week."

Click here to read more of this article from The Advocate.

Another good article - "FBI hate crimes report: disturbing trends against Hispanics and gays."

Where McCain & Obama stand on gay-marriage (Associated Press)

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi married!

Congratulations ladies! May your love and marriage last forever!

(Newser) – "Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi married in an intimate ceremony at their Los Angeles home last night. Nineteen guests watched the couple exchange handwritten vows, including DeGeneres’s mom Betty and de Rossi’s mother Margaret Rogers. The couple wore Zac Posen—DeGeneres in a white chiffon shirt, white waistcoat, and trousers, and de Rossi in a backless, cream-and-pink halter-neck dress.

DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35, have been dating since 2004, and DeGeneres announced wedding plans on her show in May after California struck down a ban on gay marriage. "We are very, very excited," DeGeneres said earlier. Onlookers described the couple as “ecstatic.” To see photos, head to the Daily Mail.
sources~ People, Daily Mail (UK)"

Hot looking newlyweds!

California same-sex weddings and Ellen VS. McCain

California gay weddings start today. Hallelujah! Here are some snippiest from various newspapers about it. At the end is a YouTube video from the Ellen Degeneres Show where she interviews John McCain about same-sex marriage. I think that she did a wonderful job. It's only 3 minutes long, and well worth seeing.

California wedding one more step on long road -

This evening, some county clerks in California will stay open late to start issuing marriage licenses and officiating the exchange of vows for gay and lesbian couples - the first of thousands of same-sex marriages expected in the coming days.

It's a bold step that has been hailed by many gay-rights advocates as a significant milestone while being attacked by opponents as an unmistakable sign of societal decay.

As of Friday evening, 646 same-sex couples had booked appointments to get marriage licenses at San Francisco City Hall over the next 10 days... But the latest wave of same-sex marriages may be short-lived. The court's ruling could be undone when California voters are asked on Nov. 4 to decide an initiative sponsored by conservative religious and legal organizations...

Calif. same-sex weddings will affect other states -

New Yorkers heading west for weddings have a big advantage over most other non-California same-sex couples. New York Gov. David Paterson has stipulated that state law requires recognition of legal marriages performed elsewhere, including same-sex unions.

Most other states have statutes or constitutional amendments specifying that marriage is between a man and a woman, and denying recognition to same-sex unions. The federal government also doesn't recognize such unions...

California economy boosted by gay marriage bonanza -

California's economy is poised for a multi-million-dollar windfall as same-sex marriages get underway here Monday, with the tourist sector eyeing a bonanza as gays and lesbians flock to the state to tie the knot...

YouTube - Ellen Degeneres and John McCain Debate Gay Marriage (3 minutes)

Nice Weather = Less Blogging

Nice Weather = Less Blogging

I'm sure that it's nothing new that people tend to blog less in summer. I will be one of them. Oh, I don't know how much less, but I imagine I will slow down some. You may tag me for memes and such, but please understand if I don't have time to do them. After a long hard Rochester winter I am out of hibernation, and want to get out and about. I want to go to festivals, beaches, see more movies, etc. Besides that I have to take care of a few things like get help for the depression, and concentrate on taking better care of myself. It's a good time to reprioritize.

A few subjects have come to my attention to blog about, but I will just touch on them...

What is going on John Edwards?

I can't figure him out. Why did he wait so long? He just backed Obama AFTER North Carolina voted. In my previous post "The John Edward Factor", I wrote how Senator Edwards, (of N.C.), could be a major player. Everyone thought that he would back either Hillary, or Obama before the North Carolina vote, and in so doing maybe rack up a few more delegates for his favorite. But he waited until the last minute, so his endorsement will not be as affective. It looks like he is just backing the Democrat that is leading. He also has stated again, that he does not want to run for Vice President. He's a relatively young, ambitious, politician who seems to be throwing in the towel. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it has to do with his wife's health. Or maybe he is interested in the V.P. position, but just giving us a load of crap.

Hallelujah! California legalizes gay marriage!



Now we have two states, Massachusetts and California. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi plan to wed. Congratulations ladies! But is it me, or do we seem backwords? After all Canada has already legalized gay marriage. We are slow, doing it one state at a time. For a country who says that they are for civil rights, we sure are taking our time about it.

Wordless Wednesday

I originally saw this on Dr. Deb's site. Thanks for posting it!

"What's The Difference?"

by Rannie Turnigan for the 20 x 2 Project.

Rochester Gay Man Beaten Unconscious

Rochester, N.Y. is suppose to be one of the most tolerant cities, but you wouldn't know it sometimes. Look at this mans face. When they find his attacker, I hope that they lock him up for a very long time.

Hate crime victim talks about the attack.

He said he was beat up until he was unconscious because he's gay, and police agree. Now police are looking to arrest a suspect in what they're calling a hate crime. News 10NBC talked exclusively with the victim.

Lance Neve said he was in the bar minding his own business and was then attacked.

"I was punched and I went to the floor," Lance said. "He continued to beat my head into the floor." Lance Neve doesn't remember much until he woke up at Strong Hospital. "With a tube down my throat and my arms tied to the bed," Lance said.

Mr. Neve has a surprising reaction. See more including video at the link.

Update March 17th-

The jerk turned himself in. Jesse Parsons turned himself in to Ogden Police. On the TV they said that Parsons has been in jail before. The attack left Lance Neve with a fractured skull, a broken nose as well as multiple bruises. Parsons is currently in jail and held on $15,000 bail. He is scheduled to be in court on Thursday.

Ellen DeGeneres Calls State Representative Sally Kern

Homophobic Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern was called by Ellen DeGeneres.

Let me give you a brief background on this story first. In a small meeting Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern made some homophobic remarks. She said that homosexuality was the biggest threat, worse "then terrorism or Islam". She also said that gays "want to indoctrinate two year olds", and other very young students.

Apparently Ms. Kern was unaware that her speech was being recorded. It became very popular on YouTube. That is how Ellen DeGeneres found out about it. Ellen, (my hero), played the recording on her show, and decided to call the "misinformed" Sally Kern. I won't spoil the ending for you. You can watch it yourself. I originally saw the first YouTube video on the blog Against the Grain owned by my new blog buddy, the notorious ;o) Patricia Martinez.

The YouTube video "Republican Hate Speech"



Ellen DeGeneres' response to Ms. Kern

(UPDATED) Protesters fight for same-sex marriage rights

A local lesbian couple's fight for equal rights changed history in New York State, but Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks is appealing the ruling. That prompted a rally outside her office Monday.

About 100 people protested at noontime. They were back again Monday night fighting for equal rights for same-sex couples. One local couple started this all with a lawsuit four years ago.

"I'm just sorry that we have to fight this fight," said Lisa Ann Golden. She married the love of her life in Canada back in 2004.

"I'm tired of feeling like a second class citizen because I fell in love with someone, and it happened to be a woman," Golden said. That woman is Pat Martinez.

Their fight for equal rights began when they were denied spousal benefits from Martinez's employer Monroe Community College.

"The importance of same-sex marriages is that we get the same protections that everybody else does," said Martinez.

On Monday, dozens of people joined the fight including clergy and local leaders.

"What this is really about is discrimination," said Brighton Town Supervisor Sandy Frankel. "Discrimination against families, and we have to stand strong and fight for fairness for everyone!"...... see link for more ....

Pat Martinez herself left an important comment and update in this post. Please read.

Read the rest at News 10 whec, and see the video. (The video is very good)

Related Posts: Monroe County to appeal same-sex ruling AND

Court: Gay marriage in Canada should be recognized in New York

(UPDATED) Monroe County to appeal same-sex ruling

I knew that the republicans wouldn't leave this alone. I should have made a bet with someone. It was a sure thing.

The Democrat & Chronicle article in its entirety....

(February 22, 2008) — Monroe County will file a motion seeking to appeal the recent ruling of the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court that same-sex marriages performed in other states or nations must be recognized in New York State.

County Executive Maggie Brooks today announced the decision to file a motion to appeal the decision in the case of Patricia Martinez, a Monroe Community College employee seeking medical benefits for her partner, Lisa Anne Golden.

Martinez, a Chili resident, filed the suit in 2005. The Appellate Division ruled 5-0 in Martinez’s favor on Feb. 1.

The couple was married in 2004 in Ontario, Canada, where same-sex marriages are legally recognized.

“This is a clear case of misinterpretation of the law,” Brooks said in a news release. “We must appeal this decision in order to protect Monroe County taxpayers. We can not simply extend benefits to unmarried couples and we certainly can not ignore the definition of marriage that currently exists under State law.”
----------------------------
(Ms. Brooks is a republican.) Ms. Brooks, this ruling was 5-0 in Martinez’s favor. Five to zero! I question your motives. This could be a profitable decision, because we might attract more Canadian same-sex couples, who will spend their money in Rochester as tourists, or even move here. I don't think it's about money, not at all.

Added Feb. 24th- More in depth - Brooks to appeal same-sex marriage decision

You can vote on gay marriage on this blog. See the poll to your left.


Related Post: Court "Gay marriage in Canada should be recognized in New York.
AND: Protesters fight for same-sex marriage rights

The cartoon

Court: Gay marriage in Canada should be recognized in New York

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - An appeals court has ruled that a gay couple's marriage in Canada should be recognized in New York.

The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court on Friday reversed a judge's ruling in 2006 that Monroe Community College did not have to extend health benefits to an employee's lesbian partner...

Read the whole article here... Newsday.com

And in Rochester's Paper... Democrat and Chronicle: Gay marriages ruled valid in N.Y.

Looks like progress is slowly being made folks. Monroe Community College is in Henrietta, a suburb of Rochester New York.

RELATED POST: Monroe County to appeal same-sex ruling

AND: Protesters fight for same-sex marriage rights.