Daily Archives: September 23, 2014



You Might Like

Videos | Dating

Live Cams | Live Chats
 

MISC

Senator Jim Ferlo Helps Break Down Those Closet Doors

Senator Jim Ferlo Helps Break Down Those Closet Doors
What started out as a routine press conference today for one state senator turned into something a bit more personal. While speaking about a bill that would expand the state of Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law to cover lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, retiring Allegheny County Democratic Sen. Jim Ferlo said, “I’m gay. Get over it. I love it.”

Ferlo continued, “I’ve been a practicing homosexual and I am gay since at least the age of 24 or 25. I didn’t need a psychiatrist or psychologist. I just decided this was something normal for me, comfortable.”

The key takeaway from Ferlo’s quote is the word ‘normal.’ What some still perceive as abnormal, is very normal for others.

In fact, more than 50 years ago, Dr. Alfred Kinsey used a sliding scale of one to six to prove that all of us have both homo and heterosexual tendencies. Scoring a six meant you were primarily homosexual, while a score of one meant you were primarily heterosexual. Kinsey believed most people were somewhere in the middle, although many would be afraid to admit it.

In the 21st century, it’s a sad reality that coming out makes headlines. Does it really matter? It shouldn’t, but sadly it does. Unfortunately, moving forward, when some people hear the name ‘Jim Ferlo,’ the first thing to come to mind will be the word ‘gay,’ despite whether you’re in agreement with his political position, or support what he’s accomplished during his term with the Pittsburgh City Council and in the state senate.

Like the guy or not, Senator Ferlo displayed world-class mental toughness in making that announcement. In today’s day and age, it’s not easy for anyone — let alone a public official — to come out to one person or the world.

Politics aside, Senator Ferlo gave us hope today. He gives hope to all the teenagers, young adults and everyone else who are still living in the closet, hiding their deep secret from friends, family and others for fear of being bullied, made fun of or worse, the victim of physical violence and abuse. He gives us hope for equality and all who fight for it, and that one day it won’t matter what an individual’s sexual preference is.

People like Senator Ferlo also help us remember those who have fallen in the battle for equality. For example, televangelists like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have poisoned millions with their hate filled tirades against homosexuals. How many gay, lesbian and transgender Americans have committed suicide because of their hate filled sermons and broadcasts? How many more are in therapy and gulping anti-depressants because these bullies convinced them they are depraved sinners? Scores of innocent, normal human beings have been brainwashed by these bullies when the reality is there is nothing wrong with them.

The bottom line: Senator Ferlo helps instill that the American dream still exists for anyone who identifies as LGBT. It might not be my American dream or your American dream, but it is the American dream of so many of our friends, family members and colleagues, even if we haven’t heard about it yet. The point is we should all be free to live life on our own terms, free from the fear of bigotry, hatred and violence.

As more heroes like Senator Ferlo come out and take a stand, the sooner those closet doors will come crumbling down. Lincoln freed the slaves and it still took another 100+ years for blacks to be treated like equals. As more states continue to embrace and legalize gay marriage, something I personally predict will be a nationwide reality within the next 10 years, America will truly be the land of the free.

As Harvey Milk said, “Politics is theater. It doesn’t matter if you win. You make a statement. You say, ‘I’m here, pay attention to me.'” The world paid attention to Senator Jim Ferlo and the statement he made today.

As Ferlo said, “There’s a million of us in this state and we deserve the same rights and the same protections as everybody else.” Gay or straight, that makes sense on a human level.

www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-siebold/senator-jim-ferlo-helps-b_b_5870566.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

MISC

2 Men, 1 Women Charged With Beating Gay Couple In Philadelphia

2 Men, 1 Women Charged With Beating Gay Couple In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two men and a woman were being charged in the beating of a gay couple during a late-night encounter on a Philadelphia street, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

The case gained attention when police posted a video of the well-dressed suspects out on the town that night, and online sleuths used social media sites to help identify them. Several of the approximately 12 men and women in the group have since met with police. District Attorney Seth Williams said Tuesday that charges have been approved for three of them, 24-year-olds Philip Williams and Katherine Knott and 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan, all of suburban Bucks County.

“This vicious attack shocked the entire country. An assault on people because of their sexual orientation has no place in Philadelphia,” the district attorney said in a statement.

The victims told police that the group hurled gay slurs and beat them when the two parties passed on the street on Sept. 11. One man suffered serious facial injuries, including an orbital fracture, and had his jaw wired.

All three suspects were being charged with criminal conspiracy and two counts each of aggravated and simple assault, and reckless endangerment. Philip Williams’ attorney did not return a call for comment and Harrigan’s attorney’s name is not known.

Defense lawyer Louis Busico, who represents Knott, denied that the dispute was motivated by anti-gay bias. He also said his client, who has relatives in law enforcement, did not throw a punch.

“She in no way participated in the assault of anyone,” Busico said Tuesday. “(And) she didn’t hurl an insult or a slur, of any kind.”

Like others seen in the group, Knott graduated from Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster. One man in the group has since stepped down as a part-time basketball coach at the Roman Catholic school. He was not charged Tuesday.

“Violence against anyone, simply because of who they are, is inexcusable and alien to what it means to be a Christian,” Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, speaking about the case, said last week in a statement.

Pennsylvania’s hate-crimes law does not cover crimes motivated by a person’s sexual orientation.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, along with openly gay state Rep. Brian Sims of Philadelphia and others, have said the case illustrates the need for a change in the law.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/23/gay-couple-beaten-philaladelphia_n_5870980.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

MISC

Vlogger RJ Aguiar Answers Questions About Being A 'Bi Guy': VIDEO

Vlogger RJ Aguiar Answers Questions About Being A 'Bi Guy': VIDEO

Rj2

In honor of Bisexual Awareness Day, bisexual vlogger RJ Aguiar took questions from Twitter users about his own experience as a bisexual guy. Reacting to the oft recited statement, “I don’t believe in bisexuality” Aguiar remarks, 

“I mean, just because people don’t believe in something doesn’t make it not real. There are people out there who don’t believe in climate change or evolution — that doesn’t mean those things don’t exist. Same goes for my sexuality. I’m not the f***ing tooth fairy.”

Asked if he has a preference for one gender over the other, Aguiar responded that it’s the person not the gender that gets him going, and right now that person would be his fiance Will Sheperd, who proposed to Aguiar last fall.

Watch Aguiar break down some common misconceptions about bisexuality, AFTER THE JUMP…


Sean Mandell

www.towleroad.com/2014/09/vlogger-rj-aguiar-answers-questions-about-being-a-bi-guy-video.html

You Might Like

Videos | Dating

Live Cams | Live Chats