The Most Positive Gay Things You'll See This Week

Pope Francis I

I'm torn. Do I write about the story that impacts LGBTQ people here in the U.S. or the the story that impacts LGBTQ people all over the world? I guess I have to talk about both, if I'm going to write about either. Let's start with the whole world, shall we? (Hey - go big or go home, right?)

On his flight back to Rome from Brazil, Pope Francis I gave an impromptu, jovial, no-holds-barred press conference for the reporters on board. And in answering one question, he moved the HRC (no, not the HRC) into the 21st Century. When a reporter asked what he would do if he found out a priest was gay, he responded "Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord? You can't marginalize these people." Of course, this is no way means that Francis thinks gay sex (the biggest hang-up most religious folks seem to have about gay people) is okay, but his answer to that question is probably the most progressive statement ever made by any Pope, ever. Historically, there have been married Popes; adulterous Popes; sadistic Popes and (in 2000-odd years), undoubtedly at least one gay Pope. I mean, come on. 265 men (and possibly 1 woman) have held the title. Statistically, at least one or more of them had to be gay.

Francis is proving himself to be even more "The People's Pope" than the much-beloved (and on the track to Sainthood) John Paul II. Smart, modern and accessible, Francis knows the Church is hurting. In South America, Catholics have been leaving the Church for evangelical congregations, while in the U.S. and Europe, they have been leaving because the Church has refused to evolve on issues like homosexuality, women's rights and birth control. Of course, Uncle P still views all religion as detrimental to progress and an affront to science, but that doesn't mean I hate religious people. I just wish they would wake up and smell reality. Francis seems to at least caught a whiff and that's terrific.

Tim Hardaway

And the other big LGBTQ news comes from retired NBA star Tim Hardaway, who in a 2007 interview said "I hate gay people... I'm homophobic." After spending time at Miami's YES Institute and seeing the way LGBTQ people have been abused, bullied and vilified, Hardaway had an epiphany of sorts. Earlier this month, he was the first person to sign a petition challenging Florida's marriage laws. 

"With what I said, people could think it's OK to throw rocks at them or bully them... I just wanted to make people understand that what I said wasn't cool. I wanted to make amends for it.'' Hardaway says he hasn't become a voice for Equality because he wants publicity (he rarely gives interviews). As a young man growing up in Chicago, he had a gay relative to whom he was apparently close. He says now that his comments were 'thoughtless.'

Wow! A little education goes a long way. And while my faith in Humanity hasn't been fully restored (at least while Vladimir Putin and Robert Mugabe are still spewing ignorance and hate), it has been elevated by the words and actions of two very influential people who have had a change of heart and mind. I still have issues with Pat Robertson, who yesterday said that Trans people aren't sinners, but gay people are (don't get me started about that old fossil), but it is amazing to see the tide turning so quickly and so dramatically. 

We still have a long way to go. Next month, 13 U.S. States will officially recognize same-sex marriage (Yay, Minnesota!). I suspect that Illinois; Pennsylvania; New Jersey; Hawaii and Virginia will be next with Colorado; New Mexico; Nevada and Ohio to follow.From there, it's just a matter of time before America finally embraces everything for which our Constitution stands.

Last week, Queen Elizabeth II signed her approval of Marriage Equality in the UK. New Zealand is likely to be the next country which fully embraces Equality, with Australia probably soon to follow. I now have real hope that before I leave this world, it will be changed for the better in so many ways.

The Roger Waters' song embedded below may be about the end of the Cold War, but I can't help but think it applies here (and the animation by my favorite artist certainly doesn't hurt):

More, anon.

Prospero

VOTE!

I missed last week's "Walking Dead" recap due to Sandy and while I thought this week's episode was exceptionally exciting, emotional and powerful, I'm skipping the recap to talk about something near and dear to my heart. Something with which I know most of you already agree, but it's my last chance to rant about it, so I'm going to.

Tomorrow is the Presidential Election in the U.S. Personally, I don't understand how any LGBT person; any woman; any elderly person; any disabled person or otherwise disenfranchised person would vote for 'Rmoney.' He doesn't care about you. He claims he's going to create 12 million new jobs? Out of thin air? Maybe he intends to reinstate the WPA (something I think would actually be good for the country and our decaying infrastructure), but he has yet to show anyone how he plans to do that. He claims he's going to reduce taxes for the middle class, but his infamous "47%" video proves otherwise. He claims he wants to move the country forward, but his stand on social issues would actually move the country back by 50 years or more. His religious views certainly inform his views on government and anyone who allows religion into the governance of a decidedly secular country simply cannot govern fairly.

If you are a U.S. reader of this blog, I know you already feel the same as I do about Mitt Romney and his decidedly anti-LGBT; anti-women; anti-progressive stances. The man can simply NOT be allowed to run this country. It would be devastating to everything we have fought for in the last 30 years or more. He wants to overturn Roe V. Wade. He wants to abolish Planned Parenthood. He wants to redefine 'rape.' He wants to reinstate DADT; enforce DOMA and abolish ENDA. Basically, he wants to force his personal religious beliefs on the entire country. 'Disgusting' doesn't even cover it. And let's not even go into his flip-flopping and lies.

President Obama, on the other hand, has delivered on more campaign promises than any other President  in recent memory. He repealed DADT; ended the war in Iraq; authorized the mission to get Bin Laden; saved the auto industry; started the end of the recession and publicly endorsed Marriage Equality. How much more do you want in four years? Let's give him four more and see what happens.

I know I'm preaching to the choir, here. I know that 99.9% of you agree with everything I'm saying. But none of that matters if you don't vote. Vote. Because our lives depend on it. Vote. Because you know what's right. Vote. Because a country under the leadership of a millionaire who believes God lives on a planet called Kolob, is a country governed by a very dangerous lunatic. Let's keep loonies out of politics, shall we?

More, anon.
Prospero