Welcome to the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia!
There have been a lot of strides forward this past year, haven’t there? Obviously there’s still a long way to go, but there are two topics I’d like to comment on.
First – More states and countries have signed marriage equality into law. Which is awesome, of course. I don’t often express my beliefs or political opinions, partly because I don’t much like confrontation, and partly because I expose so much of myself through my writing that I don’t feel the need to open even more of my inner self for inspection. But there’s something about the marriage equality debate that drives me crazy (aside from the fact I don’t think there should be ANY debate at all – just fucking do it already).
But one of the other things that makes me bonkers is this fallback on the bible, and using it to define marriage. I’d like to send a big slap upside the head to everyone using this argument. Christians didn’t invent marriage. They don’t hold copyright or patents. It’s not their intellectual property. So why, exactly, do they feel they have the right to define it? But I’ll stop there – I have some fairly strong opinions about religion, but I’m pretty sure expressing them would count as being confrontational.
Second – The first professional sports player in the big four comes out. Yay! Congratulations Jason Collins! It’s a shame that anyone’s sexuality should still fucking matter, especially with respect to doing his JOB, but it’s not a perfect world and I definitely admire his courage in going public.
I must admit, I was surprised that the first wasn’t an NHL player. Between the You Can Play project and the fact that over 60% of NHL players are from nations who’ve legalized marriage equality, I thought FOR SURE a hockey player would be the first one out.
While I know the people participating in this hop and visiting the hop sites are already LGBT or allies, it still makes me feel warm inside, because we’re growing in numbers all the time. I’m happy we’re united in fighting against homophobia and transphobia. Because there is sweet fuck all to be afraid of and no good reason to hate, and the more people who know it, the better.
Now after that rambling stream of thoughts falling out of my brain… the contest!
I’m offering an ebook from my back list to one random commenter. Make sure you leave your email address in the comment (and it’s okay if that’s all you leave as a comment).
Like last year, I’m also going to offer up some $ for charity, but I’ll up the ante a bit. I’ll contribute $2 for every comment, up to a maximum of $200. I’m not rolling in it, people! Anyway, I haven’t quite decided which charity, although it will likely be The Trevor Project or HRC. Since I now live in Pasadena, I may also look at a local charity that aids LGBT youth in the Los Angeles area. I may even split the donation, I haven’t decided.
Now, I’ll also be out of town and most likely offline until May 29, so I’ll post & contact the winner then.
Check out all the other participants at the main hop page! The hop lasts until May 27 and there will be prizes available on other sites.
Have to give my comment for that donation, KC. Great idea. Thank you for the wonderful post. : )
Thank you for taking part in the hop!
In order to combat hatred, we must spread love. Educate others, bring awareness, because every person who has their mind opened is one person closer to a world where homophobia and transphobia doesn’t exist.
kimberlyFDR@yahoo.com
If only the rest of the world saw as clearly… Thanks for the donation.
So glad for the movement of equal rights for all.
I have to leave a comment. Thanks for the donation.
great offer on the donation front again!
was also looking at your previous post and will look out for the french Cop Out when in France next week!!
Thanks for participating in the blog hop and donating to a good cause!
Thanks so much for participating, and going the extra mile by donating!
Thanks for acknowledging Jason Collins! Few have. Is that because what he has done is not a big dale, or because the marriage equality debate kinda obsfuscated his announcement? I thought marriage was primarily a legal contract, so I fail to see how the Bible has anything to do with it! Separation of church and state? When? Thank you for joining this hop, and for contributing to these wonderful posts. These will form a priceless archive, when mid 21st century grad students write on the baffling early 21st century controversy about “Marriage Equality.” Kinda of the way we look today at women who put stuffed real birds on their hats. WTF?
Urbanista
brendurbanist @gmail .com
Please count me in. Thanks. Great idea about the donation.
Such a wonderful way to celebrate HAHAT!
Great post. Count me in. kchayes54@gmail.com
Great post. Thank you for being a part of the hop. And thank you so much for the donation!
Judi
arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for participating and donating! I completely agree on both accounts! There shouldn’t be any reason to have a discussion about marriage equality. How do those christians deal with the marriage customs in other religions and cultures? And Jason Collins is very brave!
stormymonday AT gmx DOT net
I’m getting loads of counter argument ideas from these posts ^.^
“Christians didn’t invent marriage. They don’t hold copyright or patents.”
While I already knew that, it took you saying it for me to go “ahaaaa”. Next time I go into an online verbal debate about gay marriage, I’m going to steal that bit and add “Should Muslims not be able to get Married in the USA because they’re not Christians? Equal marriage has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with equal benefits from the country you’re living in.”
That was an awesome post. Thank you for sharing. I also love the idea of donating money based on postings. Thank you for participating in hop.
It’s cool that you’re donating. Had to give a comment ^_^
Thank you for the facts and for taking part in the hop!! It’s great you’re donating based on the number of comments. It gives other commenters greater incentive to spread the word =)
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
well said, K.C.! 🙂
Barb
creativebarbwire at gmail dot com
K.C.,
It is sad that it is 2013 and our community is still having to fight for equality and against discrimination. It makes me think of how women had to fight for the right to vote and the civil rights movement. One day, we will be able to look back in history and see our community’s struggle in the same light as those others who battled before us. I just hope that I am alive when that day comes!
Thanks for being part of this hop that continues to grow every year.\
Brenda
bcothernbooks AT gmail DOT com
Thank you so much for your post and participating in this amazing hop! I think that it is wonderful that you making a donation like that.
Enjoyed your ramble, thanks for hopping.
I couldn’t agree more how great it is to see how many people are fighting for equal rights and other protection under the law. It’s amazing to see how much progress is being made every day, and that’s because of people speaking up. It’s amazing how much hate there still is, but hopefully people’s minds are being changed every day!
Thanks for participating in the hop and for offering us the chance to win and add to the donation kitty.
By the way, so loved Cop Out and Cover Up (which I just finished tonight, which is why I visited your site and found your hop post)!
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
Thanks for participating in this great hop.
penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for sharing your post in this blog hop! Such an important subject. Tjank you for the donation!
OceanAkers @ aol.com
Wonderful post and a great idea to donate money.
ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
Great post! I never get the Bible argument either. Heck, the Bible also says not to have sex before marriage, cut your hair, or commit adultery, yet people do it all the time and it’s no big deal. You don’t get to pick and choose which parts of the Bible you’ll follow. Anyways, rant over. Thanks for sharing and participating!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for this post! I’m not confrontational either, but I still had an all-night discussion about homosexuality and the Bible with my brother last week. It’s so crazy. He doesn’t dislike LGBTQ people as people, and he even agrees that they should have the same rights as everyone else. He is very much against bullying and discrimination. Yet, he argued that acting on homosexuality is a sin and I couldn’t budge him from that no matter what I said. Apparently he would rather every LGBTQ person be alone and lonely for their entire lives instead of loving and being loved…like he is able to do with his fiancee. He doesn’t even see the hypocrisy. *sigh*
bloodandfires (at) yahoo (dot) com
Any charity will be grateful for your contribution. Thank you!
lena.grey.iam@gmail.com
Great post and I agree with about people bring out the Bible when talking about gay marriage. I have family that does that and I would love to smack them upside the head. Thank you for taking part in the hop!
sstrode at scrtc dot com
I think its wonderful what you all are doing! All this support is fantastic!! Thank you so much for being apart of this amazing hop! Have a fantastic evening!
Thank you all for stopping by! I wish I could have been online for the hop, but I was on a cruise with my in-laws. Somehow, I managed to survive a week & a half with 7 of my hubby’s family members, but I’m still not sure I’ve recovered from going that long without the internet!!
KimberlyFDR – you’re my winner, so I’ll contact you about your prize 🙂
Hi Jade – yes, the hypocrisy, and the inability to recognize it is absolutely part of the issue. Very sad, but I’m glad you’re trying to explain it to your brother 🙂
Carolyn – thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you enjoyed Cop Out and Cover Up… I just might have some good news about a third book today or tomorrow *wink*
Oh, Brenda, I hope I see that day too!
You got it Erica! Any ammunition I can provide 😉