LGBT Noise Ralley, Saturday 28th May 2008, Gaity Theatre

With Regards the Civil Partnerships Bill LGBT Noise will be organising a rally on Saturday protesting against the move which they argue does not go far enough.

LGBT Noise are holding a Rally for Equality this Saturday to tell the government
we don't want civil partnership. We demand civil marriage. Come and let your
voice be heard. Saturday at 2pm opposite the Gaiety Theatre near Stephens Green Shopping Centre.Tell one, tell all!!

Below is a copy of their Press release on the CPB Heads.

Dear Noisey people,
Below is the text of the press release provided by Noise in response to the sudden publication of the 'Heads of Bill' of the new Civil Partnership Bill 2008. The Heads of Bill can be examined ; http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/General_Scheme_of_Civil_Partnership_Bill
(BEWARE; A convoluted 172 pages in order to to create an up-graded second-class
citizenship)NOISE is disappointed that the government has decided to ignore repeated calls for the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage and haspressed on with its decision to offer only limited civil partnershiprights to gay and lesbian people.
Says Communications Officer, Eloise Mc Inerney, 'Civil partnershipwill create an unequal and apartheid institution for gay and lesbianpeople. It will continue to treat their relationships as separate andinferior in the eyes of the law and it will not protect the rights ofthe children they are raising. Neither will it offer the constitutional guarantees granted to the family based on marriage. In offering this pale substitute for full marriage, the government are basically saying that gay and lesbian people, and their families, are not full citizens of the Irish republic.'
Over the past 2 years, there has been consistent majority support forlifting the ban on same-sex marriage in Ireland, with recent pollsplacing this support at around
60%. In addition, 86% of people agreethat children raised by gay and lesbian
parents should have the samerights and protections as children raised by
heterosexual parents.Even the government's own Colley report found in 2006 that
marriagewas the only equality option for gay and lesbian families.
The government has been hiding behind a claim that same-sex marriage will
beunconstitutional, but nowhere in the constitution is marriage definedas being
between a man and a woman. It is for the Supreme Court, and not the government,
to decide on matters of constitutionality. Noise calls on the government to lift the ban on same-sex marriagenow, and give gay and lesbian couples and families the same rights asother Irish citizens.

VIA: Noise Press Release 25/6/2008.

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"Perverts" in Disguise

Image by jgrantmac via Flickr

The Definition of Pervert will be very important in this post:

Pervert: to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted
Source: Merriman-Websters

I am not a pervert. I am many many things. I am a son. I am a friend. I am a lover. I am a brother. I am not a Pervert.

Not a typical mantra I have to say to myself everyday of the week but every so often Something appears which makes your blood boil and your bile turn over so that it acidifies the entrails of your body. Tonight such an event has happened. I have been sent a copy of the Mayo Echo's article entitled "Castlebar Lake Attracts Hundreds of Perverts".

Now as you can imagine since I have read the article, I have been told to take a deep breath and calm down. Not my style much. This time I am pretty pissed off . I have a copy of the article below because funnily enough the Actual Article is no longer available on the Mayo Echo's Website.

Published under the title "Castlebar Lake Attracts Hundreds of Perverts"


Hundreds of perverts are descending on Castlebar every week as the town has become the 'cruising' capital of Connaught. The carpark at Lough Lannagh has become a meeting point for so called 'cruising', where gay men walk or drive to a specific place in search of a sex partner, usually of the anonymous, casual, onetime variety.
Hundreds of gay perverts gather at this carpark at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar every week. When they find a partner, most make their way across the bridge and up the pathway to the left. In recent months, the men have begun arriving in the daytime, propositioning passers-by, including teenagers, for casual sex.

Over the past two years, the carpark at Lough Lannagh has become a magnet for men looking for such encounters, and their actions are making the area a nogo area for ordinary visitors and walkers. Many of our readers have contacted the Mayo Echo in recent times to complain about the activities of these perverts, and following an in-depth investigation, it can be revealed that the situation is much more worrying than anyone imagined.

Initially, the practice of cruising by men was confined to night-time, and the area it was taking place was usually quiet enough during these hours. However, over the past six months the practice has now spread to the daytime, when children are around, and many more members of the public are around. The perverts are approaching unaccompanied men and teenage boys who are walking, fishing, or visiting the local graves. Numerous complaints have been made to local Gardai in relation to unsolicited approaches for sex. Complaints have also been made about men having sex in public places, around the Lough Lannagh area. Walkers have come across men in various stages of undress, in different positions.

The Mayo Echo has been carrying out an investigation of the situation at Lough Lannagh over quite some time following complaints from our readers. The first thing to strike any observer is just how busy the area is. Many people visit the area to eat their lunch, read the newspaper, go for a stroll, feed the ducks, or just have a daytime snooze in their car. In fact, it should be stressed that the majority of people who visit Lough Lannagh are doing so for completely innocent reasons. However, as you spend more time in the area, you begin to notice that there is a hidden world. Over the course of the past week, up to fifty men visited the area looking for other gay men, every day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the busiest, when upwards of one seventy men will visit the area, right throughout the day. The vast majority will arrive by car, although an increasing number are arriving by foot, leaving their vehicles elsewhere in the town. Most of the men do not know their partner before they meet up, and do not stay in touch after the encounter.

The men follow the same sort of procedure to meet other men. They arrive by car or on foot, and walk about the immediate area. They say hello in a casual nature to other passing men , and if the other men engage them in conversation, they make their way to a remote spot and the sexual activity begins. They may also leave the area in one of their cars, although many refuse to do so as this can prove much more dangerous than staying in the locality. Most of the men make their way to one of three spots in the hedge-growth around the area.

The most popular spot is up in a corner alongside the river. Any sounds are drowned out by the noise of the river. The ground at these spots is strewn with discarded condoms and tissues. Worryingly, at the busier spot, there are pages from young boys' magazines strewn in the area. There is a well-worn branch where the men hold onto whilst engaging in their business. The most worrying aspect of the whole situation is that this spot overlooks a children's playground, and the noise of children playing can clearly be heard from just 50 metres away, whilst these man take part in their perversion. Unbeknown to parents who are minding their children playing on the swings or the slide, drooling perverts are getting off whilst watching their children.

Some men visit the area regularly, many times a day. The same faces and vehicles can be seen acting suspiciously almost every day. Men also travel from as far away as Sligo, Galway, Roscommon and even Donegal to visit the area. However, as word has spread about the practice, groups of young men have begun visiting the area to launch attacks on the perverts. Gardai have also been mounting undercover operations to detect the activities, and the Mayo Echo understands that a number of men have been arrested for crimes connected with the scandal over recent weeks. However, the Gardai operation is both ineffective, and barely discreet. Many of the men who use the area are already aware of the vehicles used by the Gardai. The undercover operations tend to be mounted at night, so the men increasingly visit the area in the daytime. Within the first day of watching the area, the Mayo Echo was able to detect the Gardai undercover operation.

On one occasion, the Mayo Echo came across two men in a sexual embrace in a public place, just a few metres from the car park, at 4.30pm in the day. Whilst these men were at this, a number of very young children were feeding the ducks with their parents, only 40 feet away.

The Mayo Echo managed to speak with a small number of the men who are taking part in the practice. Some complained that it was getting more dangerous. Many of the men have been attacked and robbed whilst taking part in the activity. Naturally, they do not report these attacks to the Gardai. They say they carry out the activity for the thrill of it, whilst some say they are married with children.

The Mayo Echo would like to give the men engaged in these practices fair warning. We shall be publishing pictures of the men engaged in these activities. It is completely unacceptable that ordinary decent people cannot enjoy a stroll with their children without coming across such disgusting scenes. These going ons are attracting criminals into the area, and are putting our children at risk. The acts are also putting the men's own health at risk. Innocent teenagers are now being propositioned for sex by older men, and this might lead to sexual attacks in the future. But most worrying of all is that these perverts are engaging in these activities whilst overlooking children playing in the nearby playground, and also looking at images of young boys from magazines strewn about the area. Extremely worrying, a boys' magazine is discarded in the den where the men gather.

Source: Mayo Echo. (Online link unavailable, as article was sent via email after site went down)

Am I pissed off? Yes I am pissed off. I don't care about the cruising. Cruising will happen despite any Garda Operation, effective or ineffective. So long as we live in a society which considers homosexuality as a deviance from the norm and endorses homophobic actions such as the actions of vigilantes which the Mayo Echo has reported on, nothing will ever change and cruising will continue. All any Garda Operation is going to do is to move the problem to another location and all things being equal of course, Will any Garda operation be required to make the same crackdown on heterosexual couples who fornicate in our public parks and upsetting my view from time to time by throwing their heterosexuality in my face all of the time.

No what I care about is the fact that the Mayo Echo has taken it up on themselves to be the Vanguard of the Good People of Mayo and to expose these "perverts" in their Paper. The piece is littered with homophobic bigotry dressed up in the language of "will somebody think of the children". It is completely unacceptable. For the record I am not and will not defend Child Abuse, nor the cruising of Minors. If it is non-consensual sex, then it is Rape & abuse. End of.

I want to know how extensive their research was. I want to know if they in fact interviewed these men to find out why they cruise these areas. I want to know if the Mayo Echo is aware of any services for Gay Men in the West and NW of the island. My own personal opinion is that they don't know and don't necessarily care. This piece is entirely disgraceful and is worthy only to become pulp for concrete in a sewerage drain pipe.


I don't even know if any of that made any sense. I am still quiet Irate about it. I will have to see in the morning how I am feeling to see what else can be done. This time, you will not be let get away with using such homophobic and backward thinking. If you think this is over Mayo Echo, I would not rest on your laurels too much. I can do threats too and It aint over till this queen says it is.

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Dublin Pride's Youtube Channel

Remember how the Hedgehog brought you the news about the Gay Map of Dublin, courtesy of the Gayglers? Well the Boys and Gals were also developing a Youtube Channel for people to upload video during the event to make it a truely interactive event.


You can see the Youtube channel at here. The guys and gals at Dublin Pride have kicked things off with the posing of a challenge of "What does Pride mean to you?".

Currently there is some interesting commentary clips from people at the Launch of Dublin Pride in the Mansion House yesterday. Have a look at the first clip of the girl from the George!-plain simple and to the point. :-)

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Cork Pride 2008

Image via Wikipedia

I want to wish all those involved in or going to Cork Pride 2008 a very HAPPY PRIDE! I won't be able to get down this year but I trust that will not hold the Corkonians back from having a fantastic time. Last year was an amazing Pride, between the Gay Olympics, Handbag Competitions, Irish Dancing, Running out of Petrol for the Generator among other things. However lessons learned etc(ie its impossible to find petrol for a generator on a sunday afternoon in cork unless you go to Blackpool so make sure you get it before hand.)

Ar aon nós, I hope y'all have another great Pride Week.


For more Information on Cork Pride, see the following:

• Cork Pride
  
• Cork Pride Event's List:
  

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A Lil Gay Map of Dublin..online..

Image via WikipediaSo I have a little pressie for those of you who will be attending the Annual Dublin Gay Pride event this June. The wonderful Gayglers of Google's Dublin Office, using that lifesaver which is Google Maps have created a guide for Gay Dublin and you can see it here first on theangryhedgehog.com. :-)

On this map you will find, the route of the Pride Parade, Venues which will be used for Pride Events, Restaurants, Support Services...You name it, it's invariably there. :-) Dublin Pride is celebrating 25 years this year so it is going to be a fantastic event by all accounts. :-) For more information on the Events etc go to the Dublin Pride website.

Congrats to the Guys and Gals in the Gayglers for this one! Once again, Google Maps comes to the Rescue! I'll be adding this embedded map to the side bar for ease of reference so people won't have to trawl through posts to get access to it. (Honestly though it is more so me because despite living here some 10 months now, I still manage to get lost in Dublin!)

Remember you heard it first here and yes I do want the back links! :-)

View Larger Map

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Australia: Admit your sins to God, priest tells gay judge

Glad to see as ever that somethings remain static. In New Zealand, a priest has advised one of the High Court judges, who happens to be gay, that he needs to repent his sins or face the wrath of God. Well, ya know he is a judge, so far I would imagine he is doing quiet well without the wrath of God but anyway, here's the story.

Australia: Admit your sins to God, priest tells gay judge

A senior minister of a Sydney Anglican parish has made an extraordinary attack on Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby, warning he would face the wrath of God if he remained unrepentant as a gay man.

The rector of St Stephen's Church in Bellevue Hill, the Reverend Richard Lane, denounced the judge for calling himself a Christian Anglican while living in an openly gay relationship and warned as a "messenger, watchman and steward of the Lord in the Anglican Church of Australia", he faced God's judgment.

To call himself a Christian Anglican was a "perversion of truth" and to continue to do so without changing his lifestyle would brand him, like Herod, a "coward, a liar, a deceiver" and a "lawless one".

"I appeal to you to cast yourself on the mercy of Jesus … That is admit your sin, confess your wrongdoing and turn in humble repentance to the Lord Jesus, who alone can forgive you," Mr Lane said.

Via Stuff.co.nz

Growing Support for Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

MARRIAGEQUALITY

Civil Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

For release: 31 March 2008

Growing Support for Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

– New National Poll

Over twice as many Irish people favour civil marriage over civil partnership for gay and lesbian people Lansdowne poll shows

A new poll shows an increase in the number of people who believe that gay and lesbian people should be allowed to marry rather than just form civil partnerships, as currently proposed by the Government.

The national poll, which was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research for MarriagEquality, shows that 58% of people are of the view that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in a registry office, and less than half that number, 26%, are of the view that they should be allowed to form civil partnerships but not marry.

This indicates a swing towards civil marriage since a poll carried out in November 2006, again by Lansdowne for the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN). Then, 51% of respondents agreed that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry and 33% agreed that they should be allowed to form civil partnerships only.

The new MarriagEquality poll also shows that six out of 10 people (61%) agree that it is unfair that gay and lesbian people are excluded from getting married in a registry office. In addition, an overwhelming 86% of people agree that children of gay and lesbian parents should have the same family rights as other children.

According to Grainne Healy, co-chair of MarriagEquality, the latest poll is evidence of a consistent emerging demand amongst Irish people for full equality for gay and lesbian people. MarriagEquality is working for civil marriage for gay and lesbian people.

“We have been saying that there is a demand for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people. This national poll, carried out by an independent research company, is data based proof of our own anecdotal evidence,” said Healy.

“Significantly, it underlines a consistent and positive trend over two years. When we compare these results with previous research and polls carried out since February 2006 we see that attitudes have stayed consistent, that they are positive and growing in support.”

…./2

The Government is proposing to introduce draft legislation on civil partnership soon after the Dail resumes this Wednesday. Civil partnership is not civil marriage. It will create a separate but unequal institution for gay and lesbian couples. According to Healy, this latest poll indicates that the people may be ahead of Government thinking on this issue.

“While civil partnership will indeed satisfy the needs of some couples, it will not satisfy the needs of couples who want to get married. The Government has been saying that Irish people are not ready for civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples. This poll and previous polls clearly indicate otherwise.”

The Lansdowne poll for MarriagEquality, which took place between March 4 and16, surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 people throughout the country.

Consistent Public Support – The Story So Far

March 2008

Research by Lansdowne Market Research for MarriagEquality

84% in favour of civil marriage or civil partnership.

58% believe that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in a registry office.

26% believe that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships.

61% agree that it is unfair that gay men and women are excluded from getting married in a registry office.

November 2006

Research by Lansdowne Market Research for GLEN

84% in favour of civil marriage or civil partnership

51% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

33% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships.

October 2006

Sunday Tribune Opinion Poll carried out by Millward Brown IMS

64% believe that same-sex couples should have the same legal and financial rights as married couples.

February 2006

Irish Examiner Poll carried out by RedC

51% of the national population in favour of gay unions/marriages.

I have achieved a life's ambition....

Ok well those of you who use facebook are well aware of the situation with Applications (aka Apps) and how they can take over your profile. The 'You are Gay!" app is one which I have on my profile, not for any major apparent philosophical or necessary reason because it is somewhat useless. However life is full of useless things so this one exists for the moment anyway.

Regardless, I have been used to getting the "someone thinks you are gay" email into my account which is fine because well duh, I am. However When I got the email in this afternoon which stated that "someone thinks you are straight", I was most amused. I was also a little puzzled as to what I have done lately which has made this person think I am straight, even a quick glance of my facebook profile has me in a 3.5ft high blue sequin conical hat and a cape from St.Patrick's day with facial makeup.

However i wish to thank that person for reaffirming my belief that I can pull off "straight" every now and then-even in a 3.5ft high blue sequin conical hat and a flowing cape. Now I have to push the boundaries further, anybody got any suggestions?

Derry: Elderly gay couple 'being forced out of Derry home'

So here we are again, homophobes raise their ugly heads in Derry and this is not the first time I have heard of this from that city. The Irish Independent reports that an Elderly gay couple have been the victims of attacks, physical and verbal on their properties in the last number of months. I am truly sickened by this behavior. Every time, its a case of one step forward, 15 back. For crying out loud, those little sick shits who are doing these attacks need to be stopped. Nobody, gay or straight deserves the level of abuse that this couple has faced up to this point and it certainly does not fit in with the plight of the civil rights marches in the 1960s & 70s. For Christ sake, it is sickening to think that up to 10-15 years ago, these same shits were either quaking at their mothers boots for fear of reprisals against their respective communities. Now they are doing the same to those who are as vulnerable as our children, the elderly. I hope to christ that something does get done and done fast for all concerned. However the only way to sort the rampant homophobia in North and South, is to tackle the root problems across the board. Education & Legal recognition of the status of same-sex relationships will go along way to attempting to deal with the institutional & societal homophobia which exists.

(ps, cheers to Oz for reminding me about this story-I saw it this morning and wasn't reminded about it until he emailed it on to me)

Equal-L: GLEN - Share Your Story to Make a Difference

=============
Email edited to include content only:
=================

GLEN - Share Your Story to Make a Difference
GLEN needs gay, lesbian and
bisexual individuals, couples, their families or friends to join us in talking
to the media over the coming weeks and months to promote awareness of the issues
arising from the lack of legal recognition of same-sex
relationships.

Would you be willing to join our campaign? If not do
you know someone who would and will you forward this to them?

The
Government have committed to the Heads of a Bill by the end of March, therefore
the next 2 months will be crucial.

If you would like to get
involved or get more information please contact Odhrán Allen on 086-3405654 odhranallen@glen.ie Sandra Gowran 087
7960615 sandragowran@glen.ie or Davin
Roche on 087-1319519 davinroche@glen.ie or visit our website at www.glen.ie

2007: The year of misoppourtunity

It is the the 31st of December 2007 and Tomorrow will be the 1st of January 2008.

Where has the year gone eh? Well normally the appropriate answer to that is to say "God I don't know" However, in this instance I will not be using that response. Instead I will say, well 2007 has fucked me over as well as a number of others in this world so badly that I cannot wait until 2008 and a the season of new starts begins.

So where to begin. Well 2007 begun in the Lodge. Never a good start to any night but it was amongst friends and that is all that matters. 2007 also began with a medical scare, not helped by reactions and advise from certain persons within that particular organisation. Thankfully that got resolved and my health was improved. However whilst in the middle of that my entire medical history got broadcast loud and clear by a very vindictive person, whom has left my life and I hope never to have to deal with again.

A disagreement with people also graced the middle part of 2007, which has resulted in a more independent mindset. I regret that particular friendship is lost to me now because there was some very happy times involved and for that, if you are reading I do thank you.

6/7/2007. my brothers Bday party. 7/7/2007. Head on collision with a VW Golf around a very sharp bend on a narrow road. Two fire-brigades, Two ambulances & a Garda Car later, I emerged from the hospital on crutches, a bruised ego and a new found love of life-though that could have been the Diffene. Two months later a bill for €808 from the fire service arrived just when I was about to start in UCD. Thank god for AXA insurance extra benefits.

Work in 2007 was up and down like a roller-coaster. One minute I was one thing, the next minute I was another. and whilst I loved every minute I worked for the company, especially all my mates from there, there were times when it was severely tested to the max. Whilst I may be unemployed at the moment, it is good because I can focus more.

The Weather: Need I say anymore about the wettest summer on record!?!?!?!?!

We won't even go into the topic of relationships. The Summation Mantra still holds firm in this regard, as well as everything else in my life.

So there has to be some good points about 2007 right. Ok well yes there is a few. I got involved in Rainbow Support Services in limerick and in both their Youth group and briefly the Switch board. I helped with the running of Queerbash IV and it was a success, I think. I got introduced and hooked to Dr. Who. I became reacquainted with an old friend and rekindled our friendship, which I thought had become too distant to recover. I made new friends and thickened old friendships further. I took part in Cork Pride events and helped Out in UL build the only float for Limerick's first Gay Pride Parade. I got accepted to my masters course in UCD and I am loving it. I am so far keeping my promise to not be as involved in Organizations this year because of the masters alive, we shall see how the new year pans out. And latterly I have learned that sometimes it is better to build a bridge and get over it than to dwell on things too much-thanks for that kick up the arse! Overall perhaps the Good has out-weighed the bad of 2007. However I still cannot wait to see the back of it. Roll on 2008 because you are more than welcome into my life.

Gay Clare Disco

Just got this today from the Guys in Gay Clare.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,

We in the Gay Clare group wish to let you know you
that
the Christmas Gay Clare Night Out/Disco will take
place on
Saturday 29th December in the One Mile Inn, Lahinch
Road, Ennis.
Apologies for the delay in the announcement,we were
awaiting definite confirmation on the availability of
our venue.
Time 10.00pm till late. Music, dancing & Craic.
For further details email gayclare@yahoo.co.uk. You
can also check us out at www.gayclare.com
The site also has photos from our last night out. We
are also now on Bebo at www.bebo.com/gayclare

We hope you can make it and would appreciate if you
would let any people know who you might be interested
in coming along.


Hope to see you on December 29th.


Regards & thanks,
Gay Clare Group

Institutional Homophobia

I just came across this video online. Regardless of anybodies agendas(which is clear in this video), the documentary evidence presented in this video is absolutely staggering.

The Facts: (as per the video)
* A 15 year old youth is abandoned by his parents
* He is bullied in school
* He lives rough on the street
* Despite being informed of the situation, Social Services ignored his case
* He was subjected to routine police harassment

A 15 year old youth is systematically ignored, abused, hassled by a System which exists to protect all minors under its control regardless of a person's orientation is not only a failure on the part of the State but also a failure on the part of his parents.

The situation which this video poses, strikes a particular cord with me. In 2006, Johnny
released a report on LGBT Hate crimes in Ireland: Of that group surveyed, 41% had been victims of hate crimes* and of those attacks, 80% had not reported it to the authorities because it was felt that there was no point. What scared me last year about that figure was, that in the non-reporting of hate crimes, figures are askewed and do not accurately reflect the realities of being gay in Ireland, young, old or inbetween.

What links into this story about this particular youth in Cornwall, is the fact that a Northern Ireland Mental Health Study, in conjunction with SHOUT concluded that young gay males are five times more likely to be medicated for Depression, whilst one in three of them will have attempted suicide. Now I am not going to go down the route of blaming all young male suicide on the non-existence of a caring sphere which accepts a persons sexual orientation ; I certainly think it is a factor but not the only one. However when the State's institutions fail to recognize the differences within our youth; fail to organize adequate responses to issues; fail to respond to the needs of our youths and institutionally block efforts of equality, either through the deliberate ignorance of the issue eg. The Lydia Foy Case (3-4 days left for the implementation of that ruling if I'm not mistaken) or a blocking/delaying of an issue such as the issue of Civil Unions, then the State sets itself up for figures which the SHOUT survey in NI discovered, and I have no doubt that the LGBT Lives survey, will find something similar.

The State has a responsibility to provide role models for society to follow. Those role models now extend to the LGBT community. But with Institutional blocks in place, it is hard to have good role models in our communities, whom have existed up to this point invisibly, whose relationships are not valued or recognized by the State. I may remind people that there is no differentiation in the constitution of this great Republic between the taxes of straight people and those of gay people. There is already differentiation between Married people & single people. If people want to argue a case against Civil Unions, on the basis that it would cost too much, as the Irish Independent voxpop on their website did last week, Don't!.




*either verbal or Physical

Levi Advert

Gay Dating-Base System

That dating base system in full (gay male version):

Sex-chat on gaydar = First Base

Bareback sex, fisting, rimming = Second Base

Saying 'hi' in local bar then turning and bitching about him to your friends = Third Base

Source: http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/72457257.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=A9504A94882E0E921F08CA9FBE4FA1B8284831B75F48EF45

The side to Gay Life we don't see: Aging

We never think about it. We go out most weekends; We glam up; We meet our mates; We score some hot young guy; We become the older stalwarts of the community by 25 & jaded by the process and after a couple of months/years out of it, we go back and do it all over again, all in the name of maintaining our view that we are young & continue to be attractive & did I mention young?
The NYTimes this week ran a fantastic article on the concept of growing old as an out gay man and the stigma & prejudice which is attached to this, with regards the provision of care. The article is very well put together, and does in many ways highlight a number of issues in our Society as a whole, the issue of care and whose role is care perceived to be for? It provides a very rude awakening for a culture of young gay men in this country and in most of the Western world where boundaries are broken down, almost on what seems like a daily basis these days. Thought provoking, but will it provide the incentive to do something about it.
------------------------------------------

Aging and Gay, and Facing Prejudice in Twilight

Even now, at 81 and with her memory beginning to fade, Gloria Donadello recalls her painful brush with bigotry at an assisted-living center in Santa Fe, N.M. Sitting with those she considered friends, “people were laughing and making certain kinds of comments, and I told them, ‘Please don’t do that, because I’m gay.’”

The result of her outspokenness, Ms. Donadello said, was swift and merciless. “Everyone looked horrified,” she said. No longer included in conversation or welcome at meals, she plunged into depression. Medication did not help. With her emotional health deteriorating, Ms. Donadello moved into an adult community nearby that caters to gay men and lesbians.

“I felt like I was a pariah,” she said, settled in her new home. “For me, it was a choice between life and death.”

Elderly gay people like Ms. Donadello, living in nursing homes or assisted-living centers or receiving home care, increasingly report that they have been disrespected, shunned or mistreated in ways that range from hurtful to deadly, even leading some to commit suicide.

Some have seen their partners and friends insulted or isolated. Others live in fear of the day when they are dependent on strangers for the most personal care. That dread alone can be damaging, physically and emotionally, say geriatric doctors, psychiatrists and social workers.

The plight of the gay elderly has been taken up by a generation of gay men and lesbians, concerned about their own futures, who have begun a national drive to educate care providers about the social isolation, even outright discrimination, that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients face.

Source & contd: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/09aged.html?em&ex=1192161600&en=252f4521b8e5d635&ei=5087%0A