Category Archives: FETH

“Shocking Ignorance Characterizes some Lawmakers’ Views On Gays”

by D Gregory Smith

So says Edge Chicago. Excerpt:

In a healthy democracy, room for debate is part and parcel of public discourse. Such debate might include strong language, rhetorical flourish, and even the personal views of its participants, such as religious faith or an individual’s sense of aesthetics. But debate is only useful to the extent that it is relevant and informed.

When it comes to gays and lesbians, however, America’s lawmakers routinely demonstrate a profound and even shocking lack of factual knowledge. In some cases, the anti-gay claims put forward by the people in charge of formulating the nation’s laws rely on stereotype and myth; in others, the opinions of lawmakers seem to have been formed according to shallow conceptions of the people whose lives are impacted by discriminatory laws.

And yes, Montana’s Janna Taylor is discussed (and so is From Eternity To Here).

Give it a read– it’s important to know the stupid misinformation out there- so we can correct it.

Wherein I Become A Twit

by D Gregory Smith

Yes. It’s true. I joined The Twitter.

There are way too many easy jokes to make about it- especially the amount of uncouth words containing “t” “w” and, again, “t”.

Not to mention the fun with vowels.

We’ll see. If there are any experienced Twits out there, I would appreciate the help….

Follow-up On “Daphne’s” Mom

by D Gregory Smith

Remember the kid whose mom let him dress up as Daphne from Scooby Doo for Halloween?

Her Pastor’s thrown her out. I couldn’t believe it either. Read it here.

Rehberg’s Little Promise

by D Gregory Smith

Little Denny Rehberg is at it again- via Left in the West:

“I’m going to fulfill my promise to the people of Montana, that to the best of my ability I will defund Obamacare if we’re not able to repeal it,” Rehberg said in a telephone news conference.

Word remains to be heard on the defunding of his own cadillac health coverage.  Full article here.

Ten Becomes Eleven

by D Gregory Smith

A slide show of images
with flashes of faces,
glimpses, varietal vistas
I love and not love, yet.

With sounds and tastes and
scents to complement rain,
snow and sunshine, grass,
flowers and falling leaves.

The highway between
home and Sound, palm trees,
pride, babysitting and dogs,
airports, books and a dream.

The family- biological and
accidental, chosen and
necessary, met, unmet,
imagined and realized, all here.

Joints and hands, hair,
fingers and skin, eyes
and ears- older, wiser
maybe, complain anyway.

And handful of pills-
all different colors, shapes,
do their thing inside
and life, grateful, continues.

The houses, the faces,
funerals, weddings, hospitals,
parties, debates, lonely quiet,
advance, retreat and sleep.

Love as puppy breath,
too-early mornings with
him and them, us, all of us,
at home- anywhere we are.

~D Gregory Smith

2010- When Official Republican Persecution and Bigotry Went Unchecked

by D Gregory Smith

For me, 2010 is/was about Republican political shaming of The Gays. The Montana GOP approved a platform which included this blatant piece of ignorance and bigotry:

We support the clear will of the people of Montana expressed by legislation to keep homosexual acts illegal.

And, despite the fuss I made, that others made,  the discomfort from one Montana Republican leader (no leader of the Democrats said a word), the platform plank is still there. No one really paid much attention. Despite my letters to elected officials, to the Log Cabin Republicans, to advocacy groups, no one really paid much attention. fact, I only got one lukewarm response- from GLAAD. The issue got mentioned a few times- including once by Rachel Maddow, then it seems, was forgotten.

It’s sad. It’s even more sad when you figure the Texas GOP into the equation. They, too have a “Jail The Gays” plank.

Why can’t we get it together?

I tried to make the case that “Montana Matters“- a few nibbles, a few more voices added to the chorus, but still, nothing changed. I’m not sure I should be surprised, but it doesn’t keep me from being disappointed. I want us to be better than that. I want the LGBT community to speak out against this with one voice. I want Republican allies and Log Cabin Republicans to take a stand. I want straight allies and parents of LGBT children to speak up. I want Democrats to see this for what it is: blatant persecution and bigotry- and do something about it. I want to live in a world- or at least a state, where ugliness and hate don’t win- not even one round.

I know. As my mother says “..and people in hell want ice water.”

But they won this one. Again, I remind you, nothing changed. That plank is still there. In both states. Despite the amazing victories we’ve had this year, despite the DADT repeal, despite the increased awareness of anti-LGBT bullying, despite the increased polling numbers for same-sex marriage, despite the popularity of Glee- institutionalized homophobia is alive and well.

They got away with it. 

My resolution for 2011 is this: I will work to bring liberty and justice for all- even in the so-called “flyover” states. Because this phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance isn’t true yet. Because the erosion of our humanity is happening right in front of our noses- and I find it troubling, offensive, perverse and distinctively Un-American.

Don’t you?

Political cartoon of the day

by D Gregory Smith

New Layout

by D Gregory Smith

Ok- so maybe I get bored easily. Or maybe WordPress just came out with some kick-ass new designs that seem to suit the gritty flavor of this blog.

(Did he just say “gritty”? Really?)

Ok- I just liked it. Explore. Look around. Tell me what you think. Most of the options are the same, they’ve just moved around a bit.

Moderation

by D Gregory Smith

There’s been a bit of an exchange in the comments on my post Being Gay IS a Choice in the last few weeks. I loved the dialog, but was increasingly bothered by the intolerant intransigence of one of the commenters. I felt that the comments were not in keeping with the theme of this site. It became not a forum to increase understanding, but a soapbox.

That doesn’t work for me.

As a result, I have decided to moderate all the comments on this site (you can read my response in the thread at the bottom of the post linked above). I still encourage comments here, but I guess I need to decide if the content fits in with my vision here. I will probably hear cries of “Discrimination!” and “Censorship!”, but that’s okay. My goal is understanding, education, awareness and a bit of silliness- not judgment, anger or proselytizing.

Namaste.

Don’t Forget To Vote

by D Gregory Smith

…on my posts!

By clicking on the title of each post, you leave the main page and go to the post alone, where you can rate it by clicking on stars below the headline. The posts with the highest rating are listed in the sidebar on the main page under “Top Rated”. In addition, you can also push the “Like” button at the bottom of each post (Facebook has infiltrated the world….).

In this way, you actually help direct the content of FETH (like the acronym?). So go ahead, look back, and rate your favorites!