When you push people around long enough, they tend to eventually erupt. The Russian Communists learnt that, as did the East Germans and yes even the Catholic Church. That is the thing about Freedom, about being pushed too much, the desire for freedom burns only hotter, more strident.

June 27 1969 Gays had reached that point.

It was the beginning of the fight we are continuing today, to secure freedom and equality for Gays and Lesbians all over. A lot has changed, where many are willing to sit back and rest on the laurels of past success. But that isn’t enough, history has shown that one thing you can’t compromise on is principles and freedom.

The Stonewall Riots were the last straw for those being hounded, being taken advantage of and it erupted in a riot. This is what happens when you are forced to hide, to live a double life. Acceptance today is closer, but that doesn’t make it okay to sit back and do nothing. It doesn’t make it right or acceptable to allow elected officials to continue to foist their views on everyone, such as people like Mitt Romney.

The Stonewall Riots were the beginning, and as the Gay Rights Movement has evolved, so to has the strategy used by our enemies. Yes, enemies because friends aren’t going to try and deny you what they have, simply because you are different. People like Mitt Romney are known evils, but it is the Hilary Clinton’s one has to watch out for. They are the ones who cozy up, whisper their support, but cut and run the second it gets too hot for them. They are the one’s who make big noises, but rarely deliver.

Let us remember today, that fight that took public stage today. It wasn’t the start of any secret Agenda, but was the time when people, who were different, simply stood up and said ENOUGH. They refused to sit back, to go quietly into the night, and we must remember that, no matter how many advances have been made since. Settling for second is not what the riots were about.

It should be disquieting to many, that a suicide prevention and help line, aiding GLBT youth from taking their own lives, is feeling the need to expand its operation. While it should expand, given the need for it, it is a sad commentary on today’s society that it needs to.

The Trevor Project ( 866-4-U-TREVOR ) has taken over 98,000 calls since its founding. That alone speaks volume to the crisis facing GLBT Youth.

Founded by James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone - the producers of the 1994 Academy Award winning short film “Trevor” about a gay 13-year old boy who, when rejected by friends and peers because of his sexuality, makes an attempt to take his life - it is the only nationwide, around-the-clock suicide prevention helpline for gay and questioning youth. (source)

We can talk about how comments and actions by leaders effect our youth, but these people deal with the reality of it. This is the result of Homophobia in its ultimate form, when children are so desperate for relief, that suicide becomes a viable option. When a Preacher speaks from his pulpit, condemning homosexuality, when world leaders like Bush hold news conferences to seek amendments to deny GLBT basic civil rights, or threatens to VETO legislation designed to help protect them, it is the people who man the hotlines at the Trevor Project who deal with the real reality of it.

Is this what Mitt Romney means when he talks about a just society, a fair Christian valued society? Where innocent children are robbed of hope, of believing in a world where they aren’t taunted, hated?

The saddest part of all this, is that it is so called ‘men of faith‘ are at the cause of most of this despair. Men who should be the guiding force to healing it, to building the bridges over the divide between the straight world and the gay community. It is Religion that should be embracing these children, not pushing them over the edge. So, yes it is important for organizations like the Trevor Project to expand, it is a shame that there is the need for such expansion. 

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Visit the Trevor Project website.

With so many Church Leaders condemning gay’s, homosexuality, you would assume that many who are religious, are anti-gay. However, it does appear that some actually do get what a Church is, what religion is. Take Atlanta, of all places, where a Lutheran Minister is under the appeal process for being booted out, because he is Gay and in a long term relationship.

The way so many talk, you would figure that he’d be a pariah with his congregation, as has happened very often, or so it is reported. However, that isn’t the case here as not only has his congregation supported him, but it has grown in number too, directly because of his ‘confession‘. In short, people are coming to listen to the word of GOD, because the man delivering the message is good at his job, and Gay.

Since the panel’s ruling, his congregation’s membership has spiked and he came in fourth in the election for the region’s next Lutheran bishop. He was even chosen grand marshal for Sunday’s annual gay pride parade in Atlanta, one of the nation’s largest gay pride festivals. (source)

It is nice to know that people who believe in GOD, can understand that the Church isn’t just about some ancient text, that it is about a message, one that at least this Church understands. People are supposed to be included, not excluded from God. It is those who need his help the most, his love the most that should be encouraged to be a part of HIS Church, which is something people like the Pope and others ignore.

While it is possible he will be defrocked, and forced to leave his vocation, the simple fact that those in his congregation support him now, speaks volumes. That is true religion at its finest, where men of faith are tested, and those around them rally around. That is real faith, real belief.

It is interesting to note, that despite ruling he should be forced out, the committee also suggested that the Church needs to re-examine its views. In short, that it shouldn’t exclude homosexuals from being a viable part of the Church itself, even as Pastors. Seems that perhaps they too, get it.

The ELCA could consider making such a change at its churchwide assembly starting Aug. 6 in Chicago. Church leaders will meet this week to sort through 119 proposals, and roughly half are related to gay and lesbian matters, said John Brooks, an ELCA spokesman. (source)

Unfortunately, far too many don’t. Right George, Mitt, Hilary, Stephen?