The “M” Word in America

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Is everyone really equal?

Why the “M” Word Matters to Meby Andrew Sullivan

The author of our essay tells us that the “M” word –

Marriage – is precisely what he and other gays most need to validate themselves in our

culture. Think about this.Do you agree?

Do you disagree?Why?

Let’s challenge ourselves.

What is it that gays want?What is it that straights want?

Are people really all that different?

Both sides speak of being afraid.

What are we afraid of?

Do we fear the differences?

Or do we fear the fact that we don’t really have all that many

differences?

Or do we?

Billboard in front of an Anglican church in New Zealand.

Disney is pulling all funding from Boy Scouts of America

over policy banning gay leaders, effective in 2015.

Let’s stop "tolerating" or "accepting" difference, as if we’re so much better for not

being different in the first place. Instead, let’s celebrate

difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to

be different. - Kate Bornstein

Jim Nabors married his

partner of 38 years, Stan

Cadwallader, on January 26, 2013.

Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki, on rumors that he is gay:

I don’t think anyone can grow unless he’s loved exactly as he is now,

appreciated for what he is rather than what he will be. -- Fred Rogers

Redneck wedding.So this is

okay?

GayWedding.So this is not okay?

This is okay?

This is not

okay?

These people are

kind of different. Is

this wedding

okay with you?

Minds are like parachutes - they only function when

open.~ Thomas Dewar

•

Children thrive in a two-parent,

heterosexual family unit.

Traditional family structures are always best.

Those poor children. . . .

Dear Christine,

I’m disappointed in you as a daughter. You’re correct that we have a “shame in the family,” but mistaken about what it is.

Kicking Chad out of your home simply because he told you he was gay is the real “abomination” here. A parent disowning her child is what goes “against nature.”

The only intelligent thing I heard you saying in all this was that “you didn’t raise your son to be gay.” Of course you didn’t. He was born this way and didn’t choose it any more than he being left-handed. You, however, have made a choice of being hurtful, narrow-minded, and backward. So, while we are in the business of disowning our children, I think I’ll take this moment to say goodbye to you. I now have a fabulous (as the gays put it) grandson to raise, and I don’t have time for a heartless B-word of a daughter.

If you find your heart, give us a call.

--Dad

James,

This is a difficult but necessary letter to write.

I hope your telephone call was not to receive my blessing for the degrading of your lifestyle. I have fond memories of our time together, but that is all in the past.

Don’t expect any further conversations with me. No conversations at all.

I will not come to visit, nor do I want you in my house.

You’ve made your choice though wrong it may be. God did not wish for this unnatural lifestyle.

If you choose not to attend my funeral, my friends and family will understand.

Have a good birthday and good life.

No present exchanges will be accepted.

Goodbye,--Dad

Dear Son,

You told us at the dinner table last night that you’re gay. I apologize for the awkward silence afterwards, but I was chewing. I don’t know why I needed to explain that. I think I needed to find a funny way to repeat the fact that you’re gay. My son is gay. My son is gay.

Let me be perfectly clear. I love you. I will always love you. Since being gay is part of who you are, I love that you’re gay. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the idea. I’m sad that I was taken by surprise because I should have known. I’ve loved you even before you were born, and I should have known.

Ok. Let’s get a few things straight about how things are going to be.

1. Our home is a place of safety and love. The world might not be. You need to know that whenever you walk in the front door of this house, you are safe and you are loved.

2. I am still your biggest defender. If you need me to stand next to you, in front of you, write letters, sign petitions, advocate, or anything else, I am here. I will go to war for you.

3. If you are going to have boys over, you now need to leave your bedroom door open. This same rule applies to your brother and girls. No prejudice here. My house. My rules.

4. You and I are going to revisit that talk we had about safe sex. I’ll have to do some research, so let’s give this one a few weeks. It will be awkward for both of us, but it was awkward that first time, too.

I’ll end with this: You are not broken. You are whole and beautiful, and your mother and brother and I love you unconditionally. We are happier than you’ll ever know that you have found who you really are.

Love, Dad

It’s official.The Boy Scouts of America now allow gay scouts,

but not gay leaders.

Indiana teacher Diana Medley told other Indiana teachers that she believes gays chose

to be that way, and doesn’t want them contaminating the “normal” students at the

Sullivan prom.

Indiana teacher Jane

Goodwin told that

other Indiana teacher

where to get off. There may have been an

exchange of “words.”

http://janegoodwin.net

Preconception: an idea or opinion formed before knowing or understanding

the concept under discussion.

(Commonly found among the ignorant.)

If a person can be said to have the wrong attitude, there is no need to pay attention

to his arguments.-- John McCarthy

The military accepts gays.

God now hates the military and rejoices with every soldier’s death.

This picture received over 400,000 negative comments. Apparently, real men don’t fix their daughters’ hair.

Dare to stand for something. Take a chance. Be brave. You can do it!

Assignment:The world is changing. Are we all obligated to change along with it?

Educated people can discuss pretty much ANYTHING without losing their temper.

Educated people understand that discussion means an exchange of viewpoints, and that any one viewpoint isn’t necessarily the only

correct viewpoint.

Educated people have what it takes to be nice, no matter what kind of discussion or

conversation is taking place.

Be nice or leave.

Thank you.

. . . And now it’s time to

talk.So start talking.