I expect simple behaviours here. Friendship, and love. Any advice should be from the perspective of the person asking, not the person giving! We have had to make new membership moderated to combat the huge number of spammers who register
Location: tampa bay,USA
Registered: August 2005
Messages: 371
There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. Washington Irving
Hi Aqua. Gosh, it seems like a long time since we last heard from you. I hope you are doing well.
Thanks for the video. It might be locally focused but it reflects what is happening across the country. It is unfortunate that many of the straights that support or are neutral towards gay causes are also a part of the "silent majority".
Location: tampa bay,USA
Registered: August 2005
Messages: 371
Hello, I have always been around and reading the board regularly. I just have difficulties in putting thoughts into words. Otherwise, I am fine.
Straight or gay, the silent majority needs to grow a new set of vocal chords. Right is right and wrong is wrong. The people that stand by and watch are just as guilty as the ones who drive our tortured GLBT youth to suicide. They are the ones in the halls and on the school bus who watch these bullies and yet say or do NOTHING !
My silence has ended. My anger rises with each report of yet another suicide or bullying.
Seeing famous people, straight people such as Daniel Radcliffe and Scott Herman, speak out on our behalf, gives me some encouragement that we are not alone in this struggle to be considered equal to other human beings. I do see a long hard climb ahead though and I now wish to be apart of those of us who strive any way they can, to help in any way I can.
~aqua~
There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. Washington Irving
Location: U.S.
Registered: November 2009
Messages: 630
We are all stunned by these tragic events, September 2010 will long be remembered because of the four suicides which focused our attentions on the issue of gay bashing. To me these are hate crimes of the worst kind.
Tyler Clementi's name is all over the mainstream media and the horror of that event will reverberate for months to come as it becomes a legal issue for the idiots who recorded his private moments.
I was absorbed by the emotional statement made by Ellen DeGeneres, and she managed to mention all four of these young men and boys who took their lives. I seriously thought she was going to cry...or scream about the injustice of it all.
I am also heartened by the other personalities who are stepping forward and making statements in personal videos. The coverage of the mainstream media has also increased, there are stories on NBC, CNN and other outlets.
I can only hope these are not just momentary comments without a complete dedication to following up on the results. There are school systems who need to change their ways, lawyers and judges who will be called upon to pass judgement upon the guilty bullies who pushed these young men over the edge.
I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, and in that I mean the way the Christian Right is going to react. If they stay true to form then they will give us more of the same crap that Fred Phelps has been spouting for years. Bring it on, let us see how uncaring and disgusting they can be. I very much want to see that happen while the nation looks on and sees their true colors.
Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. (Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626)
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
It may be time for lawful peaceful protest outside the homes and businesses of the rabid religious nuts. We've already see Charles Carter's reaction in his disgusting videos.