Republican Maureen Walsh Sides With Marriage Equality

Republican Maureen Walsh, speaks candidly about the acceptance of marriage equality.

2012 LA

Who Should Define Marriage?

Should marriage be defined for the people and by the people; before we get into that, we must first learn the history of marriage. 

The interesting thing about the history of marriage is that it has always evolved. The practices of marriage from centuries ago, still play out in the 21st century. 

For example: In ancient Greece it's written that inheritance is more important than actually having feelings for your partner. Females were forced to divorce their husbands and marry male relatives in order to keep the family name going if there were no more male heirs. This practice still happens today but it is now called, "inbreeding."

Have you ever heard of the hit show Wife Swap, where men trade their wives for several weeks and then report back on the outcome? 

Wife swapping was a normal practice in ancient Rome; it was often done as a career move for men to strengthen family bonds. This practice still happens today but it is now called, "swinging."

Are you familiar with the TV show Sister Wives, where one man co-exists and procreates with as many wives as he can handle? 

This practice of marriage was very popular in 6th-century Europe -- among men for political and strategic purposes. Some men would even marry their sister-in-laws! This practice still happens today and it's called, "polygamy."

If you're into politics I'm sure you've seen many a scandal when it comes to politicians and their cheating ways. 

In 12th-century Europe, upper class marriages were often arranged -- as many cultures today still participate in arranged marriages. And wealthy men in those days believed love shouldn't be apart of a marriage, but that love could be found outside of the marriage with other people. This cheating practice still happens today and it's called, "adultery."

Today, gay and lesbian individuals are fighting for marriage equality. Thus far only 8 states have followed suit; it's a start but we have a long way to go. 

With regards to politics, republicans have been the strongest opponents of marriage equality although many republican Mayors, Congressmen, and Governors have recently been outed as homosexual. 

Which brings me to 14th-century Europe, when people were not allowed to pick their own mates but instead was forced to marry a mate that government chose for them. If a person went against the government's rule and married who they wanted to marry, the government made the couple pay a fee; gay and lesbian couples pay the fee of oppression, higher taxes, violence, and degradation with no relationship validity or acknowledgement.

During the Victorian era in the United States of America, marriage was again all about currency. Some men were well off but others sought out wealthy heiresses to marry, while still turning to family, friends, and other lovers for intimacy. In the 1690's Protestant ministers, would warn couples not to love each other to much; after all marriage was to be strictly business.

In 18th-century Europe, women began finding their voices and speaking out against loveless marriages while being forced into them. Also, in the 18th-century in the United States due to horrific racism and prejudice, Black people were not allowed to marry White people and vice versa. White men were adamant about race mixing but had no qualms about raping Black women and impregnating them -- therefore, mixing races.

The 1950's in the United States brought on mandatory marriages. Everyone had to get married and have a picture perfect nuclear family. If a person chose to not marry they were considered "sick", "immoral", or "neurotic." Today, these are the same degrading words used against gay and lesbians for wanting to get married.

In the United States in the 1970's, women became more self-sufficient and began changing social rules by cutting the umbilical cords that their husbands used to strangle them. As a result, the divorce rate catapulted to the highest it had ever been.

And in the 21st century marriage is the ultimate expression of love, and everyone wishes to have a wonderful wedding. And again, no one should be able to define that wonderful wedding except for the two people it's happening too.

In conclusion: the history of marriage seems to stress obedience, and always obedience to the men who controlled every aspect of their spouses life. 

History seems to preclude love as if it were the most revolting thing, but history also shows that women and ordinary people had no say over their lives and were always controlled by a bigger entity. 

What I find amazing about this information is that no matter how BIG the entity, in the end, women and ordinary people stood their ground and demanded change for the better; defining every moment in time by the people and for the people.

Let's keep the marriage equality momentum going shall we?!

2012 LA

Bernice King Gives "Gay" Unity Speech

At Atlanta, Georgia's, annual Martin Luther King Jr. rally Bernice King (seen above) daughter of assassinated civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., included gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people among the various groups she said needed to come together to fulfill her father's legacy.

Bernice King was passionate with her message. She stated that she didn't care if people were Hindu, Buddhist, Islamist, were from the North side or the South side, were black or white, were “heterosexual or homosexual, or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender” — that all people were needed to create unity.

LGBT people who attended the rally said they were shocked that King – who has a long anti-gay past — actually acknowledged the community in a public speech, but said they were also glad because it shows people can evolve. But sometimes it takes something bigger than you, to realize it isn't about you.

Ms. King was a member of Bishop Eddie Long's (seen above-l) New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and the two led a march of thousands through the streets of Atlanta to protest among other issues -- gay marriage. She has also said that her father "did not take a bullet for same-sex marriage."

The civil rights activist may have had an epiphany when realizing that the same Bishop Eddie Long she worked side by side with, was the same Bishop brought up on charges for a sex scandal in which he was sued by young men who accused him of coercing them into sexual relationships.

There are many gay pastors that hide behind churches, wives, and lies, in order to mask the fact that they are gay. These pastors are scared to come out for fear they'll be publicly condemned by the church. In Bishop Longs' case him being gay isn't a crime; but pedophilia is a crime and should be handled as such.

Kudos to Bernice King for evolving and making such a strong statement that unity requires all people, and not just a select few.

2012 LA

Gay Marriage Is A Threat To Humanity!

While addressing diplomats from 180 countries on economic and social issues facing the world today, Pope Benedict was clear on one mantra; gay marriage is a threat to humanity.

Pope Benedict's exact words, "This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself," he said.

The Vatican and Catholic officials around the world have protested against moves to legalize gay marriage in Europe, and other developed parts of the world. 

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that while homosexual tendencies are not sinful -- homosexual acts are, and that children should grow up in a traditional family with a mother and a father.

This is also the same Pope Benedict, that ostracizes the use of birth control and wishes it never existed! This is also the same institution that argued the world was flat when in fact the world is round.

My point is, the biggest threat to humanity is ABSOLUTELY not gay marriage. 

The biggest threats to humanity are: liars, cheaters, conscious ignorance, thieves, murderers, pedophiles, rapists, global warming, war, famine, and disease. Isn't it interesting that for decades the Catholic church, seemed to always fall under the pedophilia category?

Marriage is a civil right not a lucky win at poker. Gay and lesbian couples wish to marry for love as anyone else; the Pope acts as if one wishes to make a mockery of what marriage truly means. If he needs mockery of marriage I suggest he tune in to Keeping Up With The Kardashians (hint Kim), or The Bachelor.

How is gay marriage a threat to humanity, when gay people have been around since the beginning of time? 

There's been constant pro-creation in the world and being gay didn't stop it from happening. Billions of people have been born and they didn't all get here through intercourse, or by being born into a heterosexual family. 

Homosexuals and heterosexuals both have gay and straight babies, period. Since no one is at fault for actually birthing a gay person, how can a gay person be at fault for being gay? 

But how many Catholic priests are caught molesting little boys, defying their celibacy by having children, and siphoning funds from their parishes? To many to count!

Why just today, Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe age 59, who's a Roman Catholic priest, was recently sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for siphoning some $650,000 dollars from his Northwest Las Vegas parish, in order to support his gambling habit. Need I say more?

2013 Update: Pope Benedict resigns from the Vatican, to be openly gay with his longtime partner. Ay dio mio!

#Smh #Hypocrite #Lies

2012 LA

A Historical Kiss On The Docks

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta won a raffle on the dock landing ship Oak Hill, to be the first to kiss a loved one on its return to Virginia Beach; Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell was waiting.

It's truly amazing seeing a couple who hasn't seen each other in months, come together to embrace what brought them to each other in the first place; love. Without judgement or prejudice...simply love.

2012 LA

Gay Airman Comes Out To Dad

Today officially ends the era of 'Don't ask, Don't Tell', which was a law put in place by our government to discriminate, humiliate, and degrade all gay and lesbians serving in the military. Under the watchful eye of President Obama, this law exists no more.

Click here to see an airman calling his father today September 20, 2011, to tell him he is gay. 

This is a huge moment for many gay and lesbian military individuals, and I hope watching this video will encourage others to hold their heads up high while owning their truths.

2011 LA

Gay Student Protests for LGBT Rights At Michelle Bachmann Rally

Kudos to Gabe Aderhold (seen above), a seventeen year old gay student who stood his ground during a speech given by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail earlier this month. 

Aderhold stated that before heckling Michele Bachmann at the Iowa State Fair, his mission was to help educate the representative about how harmful her rhetoric is against gay and lesbians who are also her constituents. 

As a state Senator Michele Bachmann also led aggressive efforts to amend the state’s constitution, to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying.

But Aderhold seemed adamant in bringing awareness to gay issues, due to the death of a family friend who committed suicide in 2009 after being bullied. The friend was only 15 years old. 

Aderhold expressed that,“It is her responsibility to address social issues in her area, and there have been six suicides in the last year from being bullied in her district,” the student commented to The Des Moines Register -- prior to heckling Michele Bachmann today at the Iowa State Fair.

Bachmann spoke for three minutes at the soapbox today. When she stopped talking Aderhold stood up and shouted: “You treat me like a second-class citizen,” before chanting. “Shame on you!”

Bachmann’s husband Marcus, operates a mental-health clinic in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. He has faced scrutiny for the clinic’s purported efforts to help clients “pray the gay away."

The young activist also made sure to mention Bachmanns' senate efforts, in keeping the ridiculous praying techniques. “You can’t pray the gay away,” he screamed at Marcus Bachmann, who turned away and did not respond. 

The congresswoman commented earlier that she would shake hands with people in the audience, but after being heckled she quickly left the area.

Gabe, thank you for standing up not just for yourself but for all LGBT people. You are a hero! Keep up the good work!

2011 LA

New York Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

June 24, 2011, New York became the sixth largest state to legalize same-sex marriage. 

The New York Assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation twice before in 2007 and 2009, but in both cases it stalled in the state senate as it nearly did again last week. 

The bill passed after legislators agreed on language allowing religious organizations, to refuse to perform services or lend space for same-sex weddings.

New York is home to more than 42,000 same-sex couples according to an analysis of U.S. census data conducted by the Williams Institute. This means among other things, that the number of same-sex couples living in states allowing same-sex marriage has doubled overnight.

Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, beginning a trend that will quickly submerge most states in a decade.

A report last month from New York's Senate Independent Democratic Conference, estimated the state would earn nearly $400 million dollars over the next three years from gay and lesbian couples getting married; including tourism, weddings, sales-tax revenue, and wedding license fees.

This moment means so much to gay and lesbian couples all over the country. But to all my gay and lesbian peeps out there, please do not be naive to the fact that things can change. This is a big accomplishment however, don't forget what happened in California when gay marriage passed and then was suddenly revoked. 

The big difference between the two states is that California passed a court ruling for gay marriage, and New York passed legislation which President Obama will sign into law. 

When California legalized same-sex marriage in 2008, I fully believed it was strictly for the purpose of increasing revenue within that state. This country was headed for a second Great Depression and ex-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, had run the state of California into the ground and so much so, that instead of Californians receiving their income taxes in the mail they received an I.O.U.!

A little advice: Don't have a ridiculously huge and expensive wedding until you know for sure that gay marriage is the law of the land. Should marriage equality be revoked for whatever reason all it leaves you with is debt up to your ears and a broken heart, and leaves New York with increased revenue.

2011 LA