I attended the Gay Pride celebration in Palmdale, CA today.  This was the first Gay Pride festival in the Antelope Valley in 10 years.

I was proud of everything I encountered!

The turn-out was excellent considering the amount of homophobia present in this area.  I was especially proud of the youth turn-out.  I did notice that the majority of youth who wore rainbow colors seemed to be African American.  A big pat on the back to them, and all youth who came out to show their pride.

The band was excellent.  They sure got a lot of people – especially the young people – dancing.

There were a number of vendors.  But, there’s always room for more.

I’m looking forward to an even bigger and better Gay Pride Festival next year.  I’ll be there!

Times are improving for the GLBT community.  But, things need to improve.  We do have the momentum with us.  Gay marriage is becoming acceptable in more States.  More young people, along with Straight allies, are suing School Districts for violation of various rights.  The are winning more and more of these suits either through trial or settlement before trial.

Yet, far too many young Gay people remain in the closet because of intimidation on the part of conservative right wing extremists and religious fundamentalists who see, “The Times, They Are A Changing.”

I live in an area of California – The Antelope Valley – where there are Gay people: both young and older.  Yet, it is difficult to find these people.  Most of them are being forced by fear to travel to Los Angeles and other places simply to be themselves.  This should not be!  This does not have to be!

It is time for all of us; Gay, Straight, young, and older to stand up and be counted.  It is time for us to shout out loud and clear that we will not remain silent any longer.  It is time for the parents of young Gay people to speak up and make it clear that discrimination against their children will no longer be tolerated.  Remember, such discrimination is against State law.  And, EVERY School District in the State knows it, even if they do not enforce State law on the matter.

It’s time to stand up and be counted!

Maybe this is going to sound a little silly, ridiculous, or whatever…But, I had a crazy idea last night.  I’ll share it with you guys.

I know a lot of young gay guys like to have fun on-line.  Others have questions.  Others aren’t sure if they’re straight, gay, or ‘Q’.Well, here’s the dope.

I’m 39 y/o.  I’m Gay and out.  I like young people.  I have quite a bit of time available because I’m sitting at my desk most of the day, doing what I like best: writing.  Well, I make part of my living at it.

The thing is, I have time, I like young guys, and I sure wouldn’t mind getting some Email from some of them if they’d like to write to me about anything at all.  I’ll reply to all notes.  Maybe we can even chat, if any of you want to.  So, if you want to write me about anything at all, here’s an Email address you can use.

polyguy95-readynow@yahoo.com

I will reply to all Emails…good, bad, and nasty.

I hope to hear from some of you soon.  I promise, I won’t bite.

I love it when people want to add me as a contact on Windows Live Messenger.  As I’ve said many times, and in many places, I love chatting; especially with younger guys.  So, just go ahead and add me if you want to chat.

The problem is the only language I speak, read, or write is English.  This morning someone wanted to add me to his contact list.  Upon looking at his profile, I discovered that not a word of it was in English.  I have no idea what language it was.  I’m afraid we would never have been able to chat.

But, if you’re gay, young, read and write English, and want to chat with someone who is older: feel free to add me.  Maybe we can have some fun and become friends.

Well, the usual stuff.  I haven’t written in a while.  I’ve been busy.  I know.  That’s always my excuse.  But, it’s the only one I’ve got.  And, I’m going to stick with it.

I have been doing a lot of reading and writing, trying to do anything and everything I can to help my young gay brothers gain more acceptance in school and society in general.  There’s still far too much bullying and homophobic crap going on.  It MUST come to a stop, and soon!

Young gay people must be able to feel safe anywhere at any time.  They must be comfortable with who they are because – whether straight, bi, or gay – we are ALL the persons we were intended to be.  We must all learn to love ourselves and each other if for no other reason but that we are all human beings.

Hey, if I can help, hit me up with an Email or message on Windows Live Messenger.

Every once in a blue moon you meet someone who is just a great guy.  That's what happened to me earlier this evening.

I met a guy on-line from London who is so cool, he's hot!

I hope we spend a lot of time together on-line because I think we are going to become good friends.

I'll report more later.

Well, yeah, yesterday was my birthday.  Several friends did take the time to call me, or E-Mail me to wish me a Happy Birthday.  That was cool.

But, things got kinda complicated around here.  So, my friend wasn't able to take me out for dinner as we planned.  But, never fear.  He's taking me out for a great dinner this evening after work.  I'm looking forward to that.

So, things turned out pretty great after all.

I know...I haven't written anything in a while...But, I've been busy getting settled here in CA.  Well, I'm settled in now.  And, I'm looking for some on-line friends.  Well, if you're Gay, and between 18-24, and would like to communicate with an older (39 y/o) guy, hit me up on MSN/Windows Live at hotfire103@hotmail.com.  Or, send an E-Mail to that same address.  An E-Mail there will get you a reply in less than a couple of hours.  Hey, I'm a nice guy!  I'm fun, serious, whatever you want!  Hit me up some time if you have nothing else to do LOL.

     Like many people, I was surprised and disappointed at the passage of Proposition 8 in California.  That's the proposition which amended the State Constitution to define a marriage as existing only between one man and one woman.  The push to approve the proposition was funded at least in part by millions of dollars in out of state money, including funds from the Knights of Columbus and the Mormon Church.

     A number of Mormon Temples around the state have been the center of demonstrations by those who wanted Prop 8 to be defeated.  The demonstrators are protesting the Church's involvement in the, "Yes on 8," campaign.

     Various Mormon, "Spokespersons," are expressing the notion that they don't understand why they are being targeted and, "Picked on."

     They must understand that throughout history, whenever any group stands in the way of forward movement in the area of Civil Rights; they set themselves up for being the target of protest.

     I know that history will ultimately prove them to be on the wrong side of history, just as those who stood in the schoolhouse door have been proven to be on the wrong side of the, "Separate but equal, issue.

     Once again it will be the courts who will ultimately protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

     I know it has been a while.  I haven't been doing nothing!  On the other hand, I really haven't been so busy that I couldn't have written something here.  I think the real problem has been that I have so many damned thoughts about so many different things that I can't decide where to start.  If I wrote all my thoughts down this blog would become a book.  You wouldn't want to have to read that.  Now, would you?

     Well, let me summarize a few of my random ramblings for you.

     1. I sincerely believe the Republican Presidential and Vise Presidential nominees are a disgrace to the Republican party in general, and to the United States in particular.

     2. I believe their platforms and policies are the real abomination!

     3.  I believe the California Prop 8, which if approved would ban Gay marriage, is a knee-jerk reaction on the part of people who are living in the depths of fear of the unknown: which is no condition from which to enter the 21st. century.

     Yeah, I'm being bitchy today.  But, then there you are.

hotfire103@hotmail.com

A number of events have been taking place both in the news and around me recently.  These have all converged toward a central point.  However, I believe it would take a little long to get to the primary focus in one entry.  So, I'll try to get to the point in about three, "Chapters."

For starters, let me go back several years.  I lived for a time in a small town in the Southwest part of the country.  There lived in this town many, "religious," people who were very kind, friendly, open, and -- for the most part -- kind hearted.  Yet these people as a result of their culture and conservative, fundamentalist religious background could be very self righteous, condemning, and even unkind to those who were not like them.

There also lived in this town an older man who ran a small newsstand.  Inside the building he had a beautiful Italian marble soda fountain.  He produced the best malts and shakes I ever consumed.  There was one problem, though.  He suffered from some type of throat cancer which gave him a great deal of pain.  To alleviate the pain, he drank a lot.  Yes, he was an alcoholic.  Most of the people in this town looked down their noses at him.  They wouldn't allow their children to go near his newsstand.

He was even an embarrassment to his adult daughter who was employed in an administrative position at the local City Hall.  Yet, I can attest to the fact that even though he drank too much, and even though you could find porn available at his business establishment; he was one of the kindest, most open hearted, and least dangerous individuals in that town.  He would NOT allow anyone to be hungry.  He could not bear the notion of anyone walking down the street during the Winter without a warm coat to wear.  I can personally swear to that one.  In other words, he was the type of person Jesus tried to teach us to be.

Part 2, coming soon.

     There was at least one item in this week's news that bodes well for GLBT students.  And, it's about time.  Our young Gay people deserve some reassuring news these days.

     Recent studies have reported that some 75% of all GLBT students have been victims of bullying in school.  Not a week goes by that I don't read about a bullying incident in some school; or talk with a young Gay person who doesn't relate to me that he or she has been bullied in school at one time or another.

     Well, this week the State of Maryland has adopted one of the nation's most sweeping anti-bullying laws.

     A brief portion of the article says:

"Earlier this month O'Malley signed one of the nation's most sweeping laws against bullying, aimed at protecting all students, including those who are LGBT.

The new law requires state and county school boards to develop policies that ban bullying. It mandates counseling to offered to both the victim and the bully. And it extends not only to school property but also electronic devices, including cell phones, computers or pagers."

     You can read the complete article in today's (05/23/2008) http://www.365gay.com

     The law requires school districts to set up anti-bullying policies and programs.  It also requires counseling for both the perpetrator and the victim.

     Maryland is the 11th state to enact an anti-bullying law.  I challenge the remaining states to do the same.

I wouldn't have believed it unless I had read it for myself.  But, here it is.

According to an article in today's 365gay.com, the Principal of

Hollis F. Price Middle College High in Memphis, TN has outed at least two Gay students who had been doing everything to keep their relationship quiet, and out of public view.  Here's a link to the article.

http://365gay.com/Newscon08/04/042908school.htm

I commend the Tennessee ACLU for threatening legal action in this matter.  This principal was acting on little evidence other than hear-say when she put her hit list together.  Her action reminds me of the famous witch hunts of the past.  I'm surprised she didn't paint a pink triangle on the forehead of each of her victims.  But, then I'll bet she doesn't even know the significance of the pink triangle.

Schools exist -- or, at least I thought they did -- to educate young people to be good citizens.  What kind of citizenship is this principal teaching?  Citizenship as taught by the Nazis, I would suggest.

America must stand for better than that.  If this principal attends Church every Sunday, she should hang her head in shame and ask for forgiveness.  In addition whatever licence and certifications she may hold should be permanently revoked.  Additionally, the same should apply to any teachers who went along with this disgusting and shameful display of unauthorized, out of boundary use of control and power.

     Congratulations to all of those who participated in today's National Day Of Silence.  It took courage and a strong desire to eliminate school bullying to stand up and remain silent.

     There is an excellent article in today's Advocate, which includes links to a number of web pages which have a lot of great information.  Check out

http://www.advocate.com

Let's make next year's Day Of Silence even bigger and better!

     I thought it was time for a little fun.

     Tomorrow a friend of mine and I are going to a Strawberry Festival in a town near here.  This year the berries have been really, really sweet: As sweet as a Gay guy's kiss!

     I have to admit that I'm hoping to find a sweet, young Gay guy to try some Strawberry laced kisses on.

     I'll keep you informed.

     Last weekend Barack Obama, during a fund-raiser in San Francisco, made some remarks about the people in Pennsylvania small towns that by now have been heard around the world.  Nearly everyone has had something to say about the Senator's comments.  So, I thought I'd put my two cents worth into the mix.

     Perhaps I have an advantage over the air heads, talking heads, pundits, and phony intellectuals who have weighed in on the comments because, unlike most of the others, I was raised in a small town in Pennsylvania which had a population of slightly under 1,000 souls.

     People are not upset with Barack Obama because his remarks were, "elitist."  Rather, they are upset because he spoke the truth.

     Obama apologists do not need to try to explain his remarks because the more well meaning people attempt to explain, the worse they actually make the situation.

     People are really no different from any other organism.  All organisms tend to resist change.  If you attempt to alter an organism's environment, the organism will try to return to the familiar.  This is called, "Homeostasis."  People will also attempt to revert to the familiar if they are confronted by something they don't understand.

     This tendency toward homeostasis makes people prime targets for political candidates who have little to offer the voters other than fear.

     Senator Obama was attempting to shed the light of truth, rationality, and logic on this simple and well known fact of biology, psychology, and sociology.  That's all he was trying to do: Nothing more.

     I've written about this subject before.  But, it's all been for naught.  So, here goes once more.

     I really believe we're losing the art of conversation, chatting, talking, whatever you want to call it.  We are replacing these with "My Space" and "Face Book."  Yeah, and there are a zillion other of the so-called, "Social networking" sites out there.

     On these sites we can send virtual gifts to our, "friends."  We can virtually hug, kiss, kick, or throw something at each other.  We can do virtually anything other than actually communicating with each other.

     Maybe we don't want to really get to know someone else because no other person in the world is quite so wonderful as we are.  Perhaps we're afraid to actually get to know another person because that could be dangerous.  I mean that other person might be the big, bad, "Boogie-man," who is going to get us.

     But, maybe we will have also lost the opportunity of experiencing something new.  We will have possibly missed the chance of making a great new friend.  But, then we'll never know.  Will we?

     Just a few random thoughts to ponder.

     It's been a little while since my last offering.  So, I thought an update would be in order.

     I have now finally, and mercifully completed my move from Oklahoma to California.  So, that's a closed chapter!

     A friend of mine and I finished everything I needed to do in my former location last week.  I also now have investigators working on tracking down exactly what happened at my apartment while I was gone during the Christmas break.  We have a few leads.

     In the mean time, everything is going wonderfully here.  I'm busy.  But, never too busy for a friend.

     More later.

Just a little more on the member of the OK Legislature who claimed in a recent talk to fellow Republicans that gays are more dangerous than terrorists.

Not only will she not face impeachment, but the Republican leader of the OK House said the other day that he will not even entertain the idea of censure.

Why doesn't that surprise me?