Take a Stand

I had a friend who participated in the Gay Olympics.  He was a great athlete.  I once asked, "why is it so important to emphasize participation in the Gay Olympics."  Truthfully, I did not understand.  I thought when people are trying to achieve and obtain the same privileges and rights of the hetero-community, why take an approach that makes you standout from the community.  He tried to explain it, but I just could not grasp the concept.  I think it was because when I saw him running as an athlete; I saw a man, a friend, running.  When I talked to him, I was having a conversation with a friend, not a gay man.  Just a man.

What I have learned in life is people, regardless of their social-economic status, basically want the same things (family, love, safety, self-worth) from life.  It does not matter if a person is black, white, latin, gay, lesbian, hetero, people want their basic needs met.  Fear and prejudice is often the catalyst which prevents people from accepting a person for who he/she is.  For instance, when we meet people or we are introduce to someone, it is by habit that we give the person a once over look, we observe their behavior, and often generate preconceived thoughts gathered from they way a person looks.  BUT, what were are really doing is stereotyping.  What makes matters worst, this often happens and is practiced in within the inner circles of our culture and community.  For instance, in the homosexual male community, there is an assumption in order to be appealing the male must be physically fit, masculine, straight-acting, well-endowed, no fems, no fatties.  However, the hetereo-sexual male is in pursuit of a beautiful female, preferably long hair, who has a coke bottle shape (36-24-36).  I could go on, but I think you understand what I am saying.  I also understand a person cannot help who he/she finds attractive.  However, a person can control conversations and gestures of hatred and prejudice convictions.  It is a sad thing that this type of behaviors are found in our schools.  There are a lot of things that I may have not understood, but I do understand that it is time to take a stand for a better life for everyone.

Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT)

President Obama on Friday signed a certification of Congress' repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military, setting the stage for the Clinton-era policy to be formally abolished on September 20, 2011.  DADT will not be formally abolished until September 20 because the legislation passed by Congress late last year requires a 60-day waiting period between the certification by Mr. Obama and military leaders and full repeal. 

As of September 20th, service members will no longer be forced to hide who they are in order to serve our country. Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian.  "As Commander in Chief, I have always been confident that our dedicated men and women in uniform would transition to a new policy in an orderly manner that preserves unit cohesion, recruitment, retention and military effectiveness," Mr. Obama said. "  This is a major change in the way the military operates.  Some fear that with the openness, there will be a change in the way service men and women carry out their official duties. 

 Others believe that as long as the person is doing his or her job, it does not matter what a person sexual orientation is.  Many Americans will be awaiting the outcome of this issues.  I wonder if we, as a nation, will ever get pass the color of a person's skin, creed, gender, religion, and/or sexual orientation.  As Rodney King once said, "Can we all just get along."