THE GAY SIDE
I plan to continue adding bits and pieces
of interesting and incisive information
as it comes within my intellectual reach.
I want to share it with you freely
so we might examine it together,
switch ourselves into
our deep understanding mode
and try to come up with some positive,
significant solutions so
we can all live happily ever after.
I challenge you
to put your intelligence to work
for the sake of humanity.
HOMOPHOBIA
AND THE INSTINCTS
OF A CHILD
Throughout my childhood
I was brainwashed to believe
that I could not trust certain people ~
the Kike
the Wop
the Guinnie
the Spick
the Nigger
the Indian
the Mick
the Chink
the Nip
the Queer ~
especially the Queer.
The homosexual was sick,
to be shunned, despised
and avoided at all times.
I had an uneasy feeling
about those dreadful warnings.
It certainly wasn�t the way I felt,
but responsible adults wouldn�t tell me
something that wasn�t right.
Would they?
Even as a child,
something just wasn�t ringing true
because I liked all these people,
and since I liked these people
I reasoned that just maybe
something was wrong with me too.
Then I learned how to read!
Now I could learn all about things,
read anything and everything I pleased,
sift through the controversial details
and weigh the facts for myself!
My circle of influence,
I soon discovered,
had been misinformed!
All of their misconceptions
were as twisted out of shape
as those of the people who taught them
the thoughtless skills of unjustified,
demeaning prejudice.
Prejudice
It still doesn't!
just didn�t feel right somehow.
Are homosexuals
different than I am?
You better believe it!
Their sexual preference
is different from mine.
On the other hand,
my sexual preference
is different from theirs too!
We are all terrestrial bipeds trying
to find happiness and acceptance
in a less than user friendly world.
We all strive to survive
at our own pace
in our own way.
I feel so fortunate that
my natural instincts as a child
were the true instincts
of the humanitarian.
Everyone
is who and what they are, and
everyone
deserves respect and acceptance.
As long as we do not infringe
on the rights of one another,
which of us
has the right to interfere?
Man creates intolerance and hate.
Any god worthy of worship
loves every creature
without exception!
~ Princess Diana ~
the most loved humanitarian
the world will ever know,
showed us the power of love
and how best to use it!
Her love and compassion
knew no boundaries
of race,
creed,
religion
or lifestyle.
Her smile,
her hug,
her kiss,
her warm gentle touch,
her nurturing nature
all combined to make her
endlessly,
eternally
fascinating,
and forever enthroned
in our minds
as our very own
Queen Of Hearts ~
The Princess Of The People.
Andrew Morton writes that
when Princess Diana looked at a rose,
she savored its beauty,
while others counted its petals.
Two of the most influential people
who ever lived,
hit the proverbial nail
SMACK
right on the head!
Buddha
and then
Jesus Christ,
who lived some 500 to 600 years later,
put it so well
with simple eloquence.
Permit me to summarize
all they tried to teach us.
Behave
and love one another.
EPILOGUE:
Various individuals throughout the years
have made verbal and physical passes at me.
When I was young and misinformed
I felt fear when approached
and the fear was reflected in my refusals.
Once I was more widely read
and substantially educated and enlightened
I considered the passes flattering,
and my refusals reflected understanding.
My admirers and I remained good friends
and the passes creased to occur.
Two instances stick out in my mind.
When I was in grade school
Peter offered me 100 comic books
for relatively mild considerations.
I liked my best friend, Peter,
and I definitely loved comic books,
but I didn�t think of him
in the way he thought of me.
I simply said I didn�t want to
and the subject never came up again.
Peter and I were still friends, but
there was an uneasiness between us now.
Years later, when I was in the Navy,
I was admired by Chris,
a handsome young Ensign.
He was always attracted to me
and I kept declining his invitations,
emphasizing that it was,
quite simply,
not my cup of tea.
There was never any pressure,
violence or meanness involved
and for roughly two years
we enjoyed working together,
dining on board and ashore
playing Scrabble
listening to opera
and taking in the latest movies.
Chris gave me a going away party
when I was discharged from active service
and we parted the very best of friends.
Thinking back
to school days with Peter
I wish I had known then
what I learned years later.
Peter and I could have talked
intelligently with understanding
about what he was feeling
and about what I was not feeling.
Intelligent communication
with concern and understanding ~
this is the way to find solutions
to our differences.
Summing up ~
I have quoted, copied,
paraphrased for clarity,
and for the most part
expressed in my own words
personal experiences
and supportive segments
to develop this commentary.
I encourage you
to share your opinion.
GAY PRIDE SYMBOLS
THE RAINBOW FLAG
Gay Pride Colors
THE PINK TRIANGLE
A Pride Triangle
THE PINK TRIANGLE
A Variation
THE BISEXUAL TRIANGLE
THE GENDER SYMBOLS
THE LAMBDA SYMBOL
THE LABRYS SYMBOL
TRANSGENDER SYMBOL
JEWISH GAY SYMBOL
LEATHER GAY FLAG