Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Called to Serve - Unless You're Gay
The Advocate has an interesting story written by Christopher Landavazo (shown in the picture at right by Adam Bouska), a former member of the U. S. Navy who served with distinction, yet who cannot re-enlist if he reveals that he's gay. Meanwhile, of course, the military is recruiting gang members, convicted felons, and those lacking a high school diploma. The juxtaposition shows the ludicrous results of Don't Ask, Don't Tell ("DADT") which serves no purpose other than to further the agenda of Christianists who want LGBT Americans to continue to face religious based discrimination and inferior treatment as U.S. citizens. All so the Uber-Christians can feel superior and self-satisfied. The policy is a travesty. Here are some highlights from Christopher's article:*
On May 13, 1996, I raised my right hand, took a solemn oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic,” and bore “truth, faith, and allegiance to the same.” With those words I began my journey of public service as a sailor in the United States Navy.
*
More that a decade has passed since then, and although I upheld that oath, and wish to serve and protect my country again, I am now being rejected simply because I’m honest about who I am. The United States military desperately needs trained, dedicated personnel like me, but like many of my fellow LGBT patriots, I am denied that right under the bigoted and outdated policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
*
In the Navy I became an air traffic controller -- a job only a select few are suited for due to the high stress. My experience fashioned me into a self-motivated, highly dedicated, and disciplined team player and I rose in rank from E-1 (Seaman Recruit) to E-6 (Petty Officer 1st Class) in less than five years of service. Throughout my eight-year military career, I sought out and held several positions that were normally reserved for personnel of higher rank, including air transportation officer (ATO) aboard the forward deployed, Japan-based carriers USS Independence and USS Kitty Hawk, and base operations chief at the Naval Air Station in Point Mugu, Calif. In both positions I was responsible for the safety and security of many people, and I was entrusted with millions of dollars in equipment. As a result of my leadership abilities I became a highly decorated sailor and had earned letters of recommendation that would prompt my selection to become a naval aviation officer.
*
Although I was fortunate in that I was never dismissed from the military like Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach or Lt. Dan Choi, I did ultimately become a victim of DADT. Five years into my military enlistment I reached a crossroads and would be forced to choose between my dream of becoming a naval aviator and a chance to find true love, have a family, and live a full life. I had applied for the Aviation Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP) and was one of three candidates selected Navy-wide to enter this highly competitive flight program.
*
I had worked so hard to fulfill that dream of flying, but taking that opportunity would have meant denying myself love, a family, and equality. I left the military very reluctantly to become a police officer in Ventura -- and elected to serve my country further in the Naval Reserves. My next eight years would become a time of intense personal leadership development, community activism, civic engagement, and a return to active duty.
*
The tragic events of 9/11 transpired while I was in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Academy. I had completed the academy and patrol training when suddenly I was called back to active duty. I was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was utilized for force protection for almost a year. Upon completion of my second tour of duty I was honorably discharged from military service and returned home to Ventura.
*
I am deeply offended that our leaders in government, who have also taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, can sleep nights knowing that DADT continues to blatantly violate the ideals and values of equality and justice we hold so scared and consider to be fundamental to being Americans. . LGBT service members have always been there and always will be there to serve our country. It is time for our government to recognize our sacrifices and celebrate our service as openly gay members of the military by repealing DADT. I am a firm believer in calling for action within the LGBT community in furtherance of helping to give incentive to our current administration and our elected leaders to move quickly with the repeal of DADT. . .
*
On May 13, 1996, I raised my right hand, took a solemn oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic,” and bore “truth, faith, and allegiance to the same.” With those words I began my journey of public service as a sailor in the United States Navy.
*
More that a decade has passed since then, and although I upheld that oath, and wish to serve and protect my country again, I am now being rejected simply because I’m honest about who I am. The United States military desperately needs trained, dedicated personnel like me, but like many of my fellow LGBT patriots, I am denied that right under the bigoted and outdated policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
*
In the Navy I became an air traffic controller -- a job only a select few are suited for due to the high stress. My experience fashioned me into a self-motivated, highly dedicated, and disciplined team player and I rose in rank from E-1 (Seaman Recruit) to E-6 (Petty Officer 1st Class) in less than five years of service. Throughout my eight-year military career, I sought out and held several positions that were normally reserved for personnel of higher rank, including air transportation officer (ATO) aboard the forward deployed, Japan-based carriers USS Independence and USS Kitty Hawk, and base operations chief at the Naval Air Station in Point Mugu, Calif. In both positions I was responsible for the safety and security of many people, and I was entrusted with millions of dollars in equipment. As a result of my leadership abilities I became a highly decorated sailor and had earned letters of recommendation that would prompt my selection to become a naval aviation officer.
*
Although I was fortunate in that I was never dismissed from the military like Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach or Lt. Dan Choi, I did ultimately become a victim of DADT. Five years into my military enlistment I reached a crossroads and would be forced to choose between my dream of becoming a naval aviator and a chance to find true love, have a family, and live a full life. I had applied for the Aviation Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP) and was one of three candidates selected Navy-wide to enter this highly competitive flight program.
*
I had worked so hard to fulfill that dream of flying, but taking that opportunity would have meant denying myself love, a family, and equality. I left the military very reluctantly to become a police officer in Ventura -- and elected to serve my country further in the Naval Reserves. My next eight years would become a time of intense personal leadership development, community activism, civic engagement, and a return to active duty.
*
The tragic events of 9/11 transpired while I was in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Academy. I had completed the academy and patrol training when suddenly I was called back to active duty. I was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was utilized for force protection for almost a year. Upon completion of my second tour of duty I was honorably discharged from military service and returned home to Ventura.
*
I am deeply offended that our leaders in government, who have also taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, can sleep nights knowing that DADT continues to blatantly violate the ideals and values of equality and justice we hold so scared and consider to be fundamental to being Americans. . LGBT service members have always been there and always will be there to serve our country. It is time for our government to recognize our sacrifices and celebrate our service as openly gay members of the military by repealing DADT. I am a firm believer in calling for action within the LGBT community in furtherance of helping to give incentive to our current administration and our elected leaders to move quickly with the repeal of DADT. . .
*
The sad truth is that much needed talent is being wasted daily for the sole purpose of allowing bigots like Elaine Donnelly to have orgasms at the thought of gays and lesbians being ejected from the military. It is disgusting and un-American.
Is Outing Catholic Priests a Fair Game at Churchouting.org?
I recently did a post about a new organization called ChurchOuting.org which seeks to "out" closeted Roman Catholic priests who participate in the Catholic Church's jihad against LGBT citizens and same sex marriage in particular. The group and its goals have created a great deal of discussion as to whether or not such outings are appropriate and whether the threat of outing is a form of blackmail. As I indicated previously, I support the effort to take the battle to the Church's doorstep if you will. In agreement with me is fellow Bilerico blogger, Father Tony, a self described "Roman Catholic priest who has been on an extended vacation from that vocation for many years." Here are some highlights from Father Tony's take on the issue:*
There is nothing mean-spirited in churchouting. It isn't even anti-Catholic. It is the creation of Phil Attey, a man who cares deeply about his Catholic Church, and one who could have become a leader in that church had he been able to stomach the hypocrisy of teaching his flock that gay sex is evil and had he been attracted to the downlow lifestyle of the gay Catholic clergy
*
If you are not a Roman Catholic, you probably wonder why a gay priest, bishop, cardinal or pope would be so two-faced. Chalk it up to guilt and self-loathing, and don't underestimate the power of security and status. At the age of forty or fifty, he realizes that there are almost no career options available to him that would afford him the same level of public authority and the same level of institutional security. He is not inclined to sacrifice the accomplishments of a lifetime on behalf of gay men who give themselves license to live the life he would not allow himself to enjoy.
*
If a gay priest, bishop, cardinal or pope simply remained silent about the Catholic Church's anti-gay stance, we could almost respect his double life. Almost. Initiating a well-funded anti-gay campaign changes this entirely and makes gay Catholic clergy fair game for those who can and now should out them.
*
If you know a Catholic priest who is gay, use this site to out him. You will actually be doing him a favor by freeing him from his secret shame. Once all the gay priests are pried out of their closets, it will be obvious to the bishops that unless they are willing to lose the majority of their workforce, their absurd homophobia must end.
*
If you are not a Roman Catholic, you probably wonder why a gay priest, bishop, cardinal or pope would be so two-faced. Chalk it up to guilt and self-loathing, and don't underestimate the power of security and status. At the age of forty or fifty, he realizes that there are almost no career options available to him that would afford him the same level of public authority and the same level of institutional security. He is not inclined to sacrifice the accomplishments of a lifetime on behalf of gay men who give themselves license to live the life he would not allow himself to enjoy.
*
If a gay priest, bishop, cardinal or pope simply remained silent about the Catholic Church's anti-gay stance, we could almost respect his double life. Almost. Initiating a well-funded anti-gay campaign changes this entirely and makes gay Catholic clergy fair game for those who can and now should out them.
*
If you know a Catholic priest who is gay, use this site to out him. You will actually be doing him a favor by freeing him from his secret shame. Once all the gay priests are pried out of their closets, it will be obvious to the bishops that unless they are willing to lose the majority of their workforce, their absurd homophobia must end.
*
On the other end of the spectrum is Father Geoff Farrow who spoke out against Proposition 8 and was rewarded by being removed from his post by his supervising bishop. Fr. Geoff does not support outing closeted priests:
*
What would happen to any Catholic priest who signed a public declaration which is directly opposed to the teachings of the hierarchy of the Church? Once it came to the attention of his (Arch) bishop, the priest would be required to publicly retract his statement and publicly apologize for having made such a statement. If he failed to do so, he would be suspended as a priest and stripped of salary, heath care, housing, etc. In effect, he would be left destitute.
*
On the other hand if the priest complies with the demands of his (Arch) bishop, he then runs the risk of being publicly exposed. What this would mean in practical terms is that the priest would be removed from active ministry. He would most probably be sent to Saint Luke’s, an in-house psychological facility run by the Catholic Church for priests. There he would be treated for his “sexual addiction” and after a course of “treatment” be returned to active ministry as an assistant, under the watchful supervision of a superior. In effect, his career would be destroyed; however, he would still have a salary, housing, a car, health care, and retirement benefits.
*
Targeting priests who are struggling with their own sexuality will simply not work as a strategy. It will drive out of the active ministry many priests who are quietly working on behalf of LGBT people. It will drive many gay priests more deeply into the closet. It will drive some gay priests into greater self-loathing. It will strengthen the power of the hierarchy by providing them with “thought/conduct police” which will further intimidate priests. Finally, this strategy runs a serious risk of casting the LGBT movement as resorting to extortion.
On the other end of the spectrum is Father Geoff Farrow who spoke out against Proposition 8 and was rewarded by being removed from his post by his supervising bishop. Fr. Geoff does not support outing closeted priests:
*
What would happen to any Catholic priest who signed a public declaration which is directly opposed to the teachings of the hierarchy of the Church? Once it came to the attention of his (Arch) bishop, the priest would be required to publicly retract his statement and publicly apologize for having made such a statement. If he failed to do so, he would be suspended as a priest and stripped of salary, heath care, housing, etc. In effect, he would be left destitute.
*
On the other hand if the priest complies with the demands of his (Arch) bishop, he then runs the risk of being publicly exposed. What this would mean in practical terms is that the priest would be removed from active ministry. He would most probably be sent to Saint Luke’s, an in-house psychological facility run by the Catholic Church for priests. There he would be treated for his “sexual addiction” and after a course of “treatment” be returned to active ministry as an assistant, under the watchful supervision of a superior. In effect, his career would be destroyed; however, he would still have a salary, housing, a car, health care, and retirement benefits.
*
Targeting priests who are struggling with their own sexuality will simply not work as a strategy. It will drive out of the active ministry many priests who are quietly working on behalf of LGBT people. It will drive many gay priests more deeply into the closet. It will drive some gay priests into greater self-loathing. It will strengthen the power of the hierarchy by providing them with “thought/conduct police” which will further intimidate priests. Finally, this strategy runs a serious risk of casting the LGBT movement as resorting to extortion.
*
With all due respect, Fr. Geoff over looks the fact that because of the anti-gay efforts of the Catholic Church and its anti-gay allies, countless LGBT Americans are fired from their jobs daily for lack of employment non-discrimination protections (some being left destitute), individuals are driven from the military shortly before retirement and left with no retirement, other individuals are denied health care access through coverage under a partner's insurance plan, and untold numbers of gay youths take their own lives rather than be damned to Hell as officially proclaimed by the Church and its closeted priests. Indeed, the Church even tells gays to undergo reparative therapy with all of its quackery and witch doctor like aspects. If a few thousand priests need to be outed and sacrificed for the benefit of hundreds of thousands or even millions of individuals, I'm sorry, but the priests need to be outed so as to cripple the Church's evil doing. Bad things happen because good people stand by and do nothing. Here, these closeted priests made their choices and must live with the consequences.
My Upcoming Appearance on WHRV 89.5 FM Public Radio
A week from tomorrow I will be a guest on Hearsay with Cathy Lewis on WHRV 89.5 FM Public Radio for Hampton Roads a part of a round table group to discuss LGBT issues in Hampton Roads, Virginia. "HearSay with Cathy Lewis" is the only locally produced, public affairs radio call-in program in Hampton Roads. Every Monday through Friday and reaches more than 52,000 listeners, from Richmond, Virginia to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The show's host, Cathy Lewis" won the Virginia Association of Broadcasters Award for Best Radio Documentary or Public Affairs Show and in July 2004 "Port Folio Weekly" named Cathy the Best Radio Personality in Hampton Roads. *
The other panelists will include Shannon Bowman (one of my fellow co-founders of HRBOR), who was, along with her partner, denied ‘family’ membership status at the Mallory Country Club recently, and James Parker, President of Hampton Roads Pride and Jon Blair, CEO of Equality Virginia. Since I know all of the other members of the panel well it should make for a lively and informative discussion. The topics to be discussed will include legal and estate planning issues, including gay marriage, health care access issues, and elder care for members of the LGBT community.
*
Here's an explanation of why I was invited to participate in the panel:
*
We are hoping to include a legal professional in the conversation and, in looking for a local person to provide that perspective, I came across your blogs (both the legal and personal ones) and thought you would be a great choice given both your personal and professional ties to the LGBT community.
We are hoping to include a legal professional in the conversation and, in looking for a local person to provide that perspective, I came across your blogs (both the legal and personal ones) and thought you would be a great choice given both your personal and professional ties to the LGBT community.
*
It should be an interesting experience and I am looking forward to it.
Holiday Doldrums-2009
I know that I am not alone in this phenomenon, but the Thanksgiving through New Year's holiday season is all too typically depressing for me. Feelings of the need to exhibit forced cheerfulness and gaiety certainly do not help matters. I tend to think of lost opportunities, past mistakes, happier times past, lost relatives and worse of all my abandonment by my two older children. My son (pictured above in 2004 at Whistler, BC) has gone back to Washington State and I do not even know how to contact him. As for my oldest daughter, we have had no contact since late May. Thankfully, my youngest remains in contact and in fact is working for me part time so I get to see her almost every weekday. She truly doesn't know how much her faith in me has meant and helped me avoid the unthinkable to date.*
I know full well that there was no way that I could have gone on living in the closet racked with self-hate and loathing. Plus, in retrospect, I was in a very dysfunctional marriage where my happiness was never allowed on the radar screen (I existed merely to make others happy, never myself)- all of which led me to be a very angry and unhappy person. Suicide would have been an absolute certainty if I had pursued the course of remaining in the closet. And yet, doing the right thing - indeed the necessary thing - and coming out has been anything but an easy journey. I know that am very blessed with a wonderful man in my life who treasurers me more than anyone in my life ever has before, but the sadness still often remains at times just beneath the surface. My therapist yesterday asked if I allowed myself to slide back into the old habit of putting on a pleasing facade for others in the pretense that all is well. Perhaps I do on occasion, but overall I can never return to that way of living.
*
This blog has been a life saving therapy for me. It allows me to vent feelings and most importantly vent anger and rage at a screwed up society where those who are different than the majority - in the case of gays, due to noncompliance with Christianist religious dogma - all too often suffer the consequences. It's ironic that those who claim to honor the sanctity of life go out of their way to make so many miserable. Are things changing for the better? I believe so, but surely not at the pace I would want. I want as few future generations to experience the crap that so many of us older gays knew growing up where the closet seemed the only viable option. We did nothing wrong and are merely as God made us, yet because of that, life has been far, far more difficult than it should have been.
*
I will survive another holiday season and this weekend will be busy with us joining the boyfriend's extended family on Thanksgiving - we had been scheduled to host, but the flood derailed that plan - and working away packing up everything remaining on the first floor before demolition and repairs get underway. We will also be installing a new floor in the styling area of the boyfriend's salon. Scatter throughout will be some evening social affairs with friends. Life goes on.
Will Catholic Bishops Start Denying Communion to Gay Marriage Supporters?
The leadership of Roman Catholic Church seems in some ways Hell bent to turn the Church into a mirror image of the whacky far right evangelical Christians who obsess over three issues to the exclusion of all else: abortion, stem cell research and, of course, demonizing the gays. The long history of a social ministry aimed at feeding the hungry and clothing the poor seems to be slowly sliding into irrelevance as the womb and legal relationships between same sex couples trumps all else. And the weapon of choice against non-compliant Catholics? The denial of communion, the center piece of the Catholic mass. Change.org has a story that looks at this trend which has been highlighted by the dust up between Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Bishop Thomas Tobin. Is this new obsession sincere in light of the Church's age old effort to depict all things sexual as dirty and sinful or merely a means to try to remove news coverage focus from the continuing sex abuse scandal debacle? Here are some highlights:*
U.S. Catholic Bishops have made a giant leap toward using Communion as their next political weapon, with Rhode Island's bishop telling Rep. Patrick Kennedy that he is no longer welcome to receive Communion during Mass at any church in the entire state. The move by Bishop Thomas Tobin follows through on previous threats by many U.S. Catholic bishops that they would ban pro-choice and pro-gay politicians from partaking in one of the Church's most important sacraments.
*
"The bishop instructed me not to take communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me communion," Kennedy said.
*
Today [this past Sunday] happens to be the 46th anniversary of the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, the nation's only Catholic head of state. What a difference four decades make in reshaping Catholic identity. Back then Catholics celebrated President Kennedy's leadership. Today, Kennedy and his family would be told by many bishops that they're not welcome to the table.
*
The announcement by Bishop Tobin to control Communion like a mafia leader stems from debate during the 2004 election, when Sen. John Kerry (himself a Catholic) was running for President. During that year, conservative U.S. Catholic leaders put together what they considered a list of "non-negotiable" issues that they said Catholics could not waver on.
*
It was a narrowing of Catholic theology to strip issues like poverty and social justice from the forefront of the Church, and replace them with opposing abortion, gay marriage, and stem cell research. It was also a call to Catholic politicians: oppose abortion and gay marriage at all costs, or risk the threat of the Church denying you Communion and publicly tarring and feathering you as a sinner.
*
There's no reason to think that Church leaders won't head to even deeper depths, politicizing one of their oldest traditions in Communion to simply toe a line on gay marriage that is increasingly out of step with public opinion.
*
As I have said before, the best thing those in disagreement with the Church's drift toward a 13th century mindset under the Nazi Pope is to "vote with their feet" and exit the Church for denominations not at war with modernity itself. Options ARE out there and should be pursued.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Martha Stewart: Sarah Palin Is Dangerous
The boyfriend's nickname for new readers is "Martha Stewart" since he cooks, bakes, designs and makes window treatments, builds furniture, and does wonderful landscape designs. And he gets Martha Stewart Living - which I will concede is a good magazine. Thus, I found it amusing that he and the real "Martha" agree on something else: Sarah Palin - she's a dangerous nutcase. Watch the video:
G.O.P. Considers ‘Purity’ Resolution for Candidates
One really has to wonder what else the Republican Party will do to further demonstrate to voters that control of the Party has been ceased by birthers, teabaggers and the minions of Bible Spice Palin. It seems that being untethered from reality and supporting theocracy are becoming prerequisites to running on the GOP ticket. The latest insanity is a proposal that all GOP candidates take a "purity" resolution in order to run as a party backed candidate. Not surprisingly, gay-hating is one of the prerequisites as is anti-immigrant bigotry and unrestricted access to guns. A New York Times story looks at this latest effort to drive sane and rational people from the party. Obviously, nothing was learned by the wingnuts from the Democrat victory in the New York 23rd Congressional District. Here are highlights:*
The battle among Republicans over what the party should stand for — and how much it should accommodate dissenting views on important issues — is probably going to move from the states to the Republican National Committee when it holds its winter meeting this January in Honolulu.
*
Republican leaders are circulating a resolution listing 10 positions Republican candidates should support to demonstrate that they “espouse conservative principles and public policies” that are in opposition to “Obama’s socialist agenda.” According to the resolution, any Republican candidate who broke with the party on three or more of these issues– in votes cast, public statements made or answering a questionnaire – would be penalized by being denied party funds or the party endorsement.
*
The development is going to put pressure on Michael Steele, the party chairman, as he tries to maintain a balance between those in his party who have been saying the road to victory is to include divergent views, and those who say the party needs to embrace conservative principles that have been at its core. Here is the resolution’s list:
*
(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill;
*
(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care;
*
(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
*
(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check;
*
(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
*
(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
*
(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;
*
(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
*
(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
*
(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership.
The battle among Republicans over what the party should stand for — and how much it should accommodate dissenting views on important issues — is probably going to move from the states to the Republican National Committee when it holds its winter meeting this January in Honolulu.
*
Republican leaders are circulating a resolution listing 10 positions Republican candidates should support to demonstrate that they “espouse conservative principles and public policies” that are in opposition to “Obama’s socialist agenda.” According to the resolution, any Republican candidate who broke with the party on three or more of these issues– in votes cast, public statements made or answering a questionnaire – would be penalized by being denied party funds or the party endorsement.
*
The development is going to put pressure on Michael Steele, the party chairman, as he tries to maintain a balance between those in his party who have been saying the road to victory is to include divergent views, and those who say the party needs to embrace conservative principles that have been at its core. Here is the resolution’s list:
*
(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill;
*
(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care;
*
(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
*
(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check;
*
(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
*
(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
*
(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;
*
(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
*
(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
*
(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)