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You are here: Home > Forum > A Place of Safety > General Talk > Caution! The following is an editorial, it may piss you off
Caution! The following is an editorial, it may piss you off  [message #59847] Tue, 01 December 2009 14:49 Go to previous message
Brody Levesque is currently offline  Brody Levesque

Really getting into it
Location: US/Canada
Registered: September 2009
Messages: 733



I have carefully read the responses to Tim's questions/pleadings/statements in the past week or so. I have also had numerous chats with him regarding a variety of the subjects that have been discussed on the MB recently as well.

But before I get to that, I am going to answer one of the critiques that has been repeatedly implied or openly debated; Bad news that's being posted here.

First off, I have no clue as to the division of labour or economic specialisation of labour represented here. Judging from the current poll results and discussions with Tim, factoring in different levels of education as well, there seems to be a wide range. I also am not sure that another member of my profession could also be included or factored in as well. However, my point is, that all of you bring different perspectives to the table in these threads.

I, bring mine, which is 30 years of being a journalist. ( And yes, old school.) What I post is based on my perceptions as a journalist, and those stories are to highlight in specific relief problems that a LGBT person should, must, or ought to be aware of regardless of how terrible that story maybe.

Why is this important here? Tim has stated this privately to me and publicly to all of you: Where do youth and younger LGBT adults go to get answers? Where do they read things that may cause them to become more proactive about being LGBT? Then there is this factor. Today's LGBT activism is viral and immediate and yes, just as my fellow Canadian, Mr. Austin pointed out, 24/7 like the news coverage.

Folks, look. I cover the mainstream political events daily. Ah, for example, today is World Aids Day, but that will get precious little or no coverage here by the Washington Press Corps, (including yours truly) owing to the fact that the President is on his way to West Point later today to deliver a major policy statement in regards to his decision to increase by another 30K, U. S. Troops in the war in Afghanistan. Then there is the steadily worsening jobs & employment outlook which is now in the double digits. Over on the Hill, the battle for health care. Finally, and this one angers me the most, the never-ending coverage on the Virgina couple that crashed the WH State dinner last week. Which by the way, ALL of the talking heads are having a field day over. I feel sorry for the poor guys in the Secret Service who now cringe when I greet them on my way in to a briefing for fear that I am gonna ask about that topic.
Bottom line? I don't get to cover what I think is important to me as a Gay man. But then again, hey, I like to eat and pay my bills.

So, I post here and I have my tiny little blog which I am grateful is starting to get a following. That way I feel I can cover things that are critical to the LGBT community. Oh, and for the American contingent here, heads up! Today is the D. C. City council vote on Gay Marriage which will pass but has already got the Catholic Church declaring that they are gonna cut off assistance to the city due to "gross violation of their religious faith and beliefs."
That quote coming from a spokesperson at the Archdiocese that I interviewed by phone last night.

Information is personal power and enrichment folks. For anyone particularly that is young and searching or young and needing possibly a challenge or to fill a call to serve the greater good, then by God there's a damn good chance that maybe something I report on will motivate, educate, or create a need to explore further.

Okay, next: People here recently were VERY angry that I referred to the MB as a "quaint London Gentleman's Club." You know what guys? Mea Culpa and I could care less. From my perspective that what it looked like this place was turning into.

Tim wants a place of safety but also a place that is inclusive. AHA! There's the rub Barnacle Bill the Sailor who's only me from across the sea.....
The average 14 to 24 year old adolescent, (both sexes) spends an average of, (are you ready for this?) 9 and a half hours online via text message, chat, Facebook,YouTube, or other electronic social networking. I don't know about you all, but that's damn near a full work day for me.
Now I mention that fact, because if you talk to them, and I do frequently, besides the obvious chatting up their friends, they are searching, gathering information, being creative. For the GAY & LESBIAN & BI & TRANSGENDERED ones, they are looking for critical info and more importantly establishing themselves as they sort out things in their lives.

This is where this place has had success. It is also why Tim has gently, prodded and poked to shift the parameters of some of the threads recently. Now, its also a given that he's using a form of marketing strategy which should come as no shock as he's an expert in that field.

I have tried to assist in this effort by going after news stories that are entirely relevant to the greater LGBT community. Also I have tried to promote some activism along the way.

What's key here is that from MY perspective, it's incumbent upon us old farts to be inclusive, and to educate, and to share our life experiences that in turn may help a younger one.

Okay third point: You ALL do not like the term Gay Community. Hmm, well, here's a thought, oh and especially for those of you still in the closet...Do LGBT folks have FULL Equality as Human Beings? The obvious answer is of course not. Well my fellow Gay brethren, guess what, that very lack of full equality means that all of us are second class citizens in a diversified community by definition and by the fact that we are all lumped together. So, why not embrace that fact? Just as there is HUGE diversity in the animal community by species, there is huge diversity in the Gay community. Until full parity & equality are achieved, it's gonna stay that way. This is an important message folks. This is exactly what the kids need to hear.

JFR mentioned the massacre in Tel Aviv. I have shouted about the Puerto Rican kid. Yeah, nasty work that eh? The point is that it affects the entire GAY COMMUNITY as a whole.

Okay, I can do this and am willing. IF, you all, and no more nasty emails either by the way please, (I get enough of that crap daily anyway.) are entirely dissatisfied with the fact that I employ my profession in my posting here, then I can cease that and simply just post the headline and a link to my blog.

Finally, good news.........hmm I have posted articles that were good news, such as the Matthew Shepard Act's passage & being signed into law. Or, the plea from the Ali Forney Center yesterday for assistance. I will post good as well as bad. But more so, and like EJ who has an editor's eye for the pertinent.. Bring stories that raise levels of awareness.

But, as I stated, if all of you feel that its just too much saturation, then okay, I'll just link it. The problem that I have with links is that its irritating to me personally to click to go elsewhere to read the damn story. It's my own personal quirk. I cannot stand that. I like to read and then comment.

I have stepped on toes to be certain, but that was bound to happen. I am an openly proud Gay man whose unafraid to say exactly what he thinks and that can be, using Nigel's word, "provocative." But I also have a responsibility to the code of ethics of my profession and more so as a Gay Human Male. That is to be informative, supportive, and encourage others. I do not expect also to be "correct" and right. I am just as fallible as the next and even I screw up. That's what friends AND Editors are for...snicker.

So there you have it... my two penny's worth......

Brody
 
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