LGBT Rights vs. Party Politics

Hi bears, cubs, admirers...

So this is my first post here. LatinCub asked me to contribute to his blog from time to time about political issues, LGBT rights stuff, etc. Much of what I might share won't be specific to the bear community but hopefully of interest anyhow. Also, you should know, I am one very opinionated cub, so forgive me if anything I post is offensive or we disagree. It is only meant for healthy debate...

I wrote this tonight after much contemplation about my last week. Hope you enjoy...

LGBT Rights vs. Party Politics

Last week I had the honor to speak at a No on Proposition 8 event in West Hollywood. Thirty people joined together share their passion for equal rights, donate their money and learn how they can help defeat the discriminatory measure to eliminate the right of gay and lesbians from marrying in California.

This was the third such event I had attended in 2 weeks, but this one was different. This event was to raise money to support Republicans Against 8, a PAC created to mobilize republicans to vote no on proposition 8.

In the weeks preceding the event, I invited dozens friends and acquaintances to attend, but only one joined. Friends know I am a proud democrat and I was repeatedly asked why I was involved with an event supporting republicans. Many used the conversation as an opportunity to put down our LGBT brothers and sisters who are affiliated with the GOP.

At first I wasn’t bothered by their reactions or shunning of our republican counterparts because it has become so commonplace, but as the conversation repeated itself again and again I found myself increasingly agitated.

For years, organizations like The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce and Equality California have demonstrated that community organizing is the backbone of the LGBT rights movement. However, to win we need to organize the masses, leaving no ally on the side lines. So, how can you be so quick to leave anyone behind who agrees with us on defending the right of same-sex couples to marry? Are we really willing to alienate our Republican LGBT brothers and sisters at the detriment of our civil rights movement?

Republicans across the State of California, gay and straight alike, are willing and ready to vote No on Proposition 8. LGBT republicans through Republicans Against 8 were at the California Republican Convention working to educate fellow republicans why voting No on Prop 8 is important. And, LGBT republicans want and deserve all the same rights and privileges as LGBT democrats, independents, green party members, etc., and we can’t afford to leave them out of our civil rights fight.

This is about people. This is about legal equality. This is not about party politics.

Embrace ALL of our allies and brace for the celebration of victory in defeating Prop. 8 on November 4th.

September 11

Like most of us, I can still remember where I was, and what I was doing on this day. As I walked into the office, my co-worker approached me and asked whether I heard about the plane that flew into one of the towers in NYC. Initially I had no reaction. The magnitude of what was taking place didn't register just yet.

Next, I called my partner at the time who was working at the hospital. Nothing made sense to me yet, until he made it clear we were under attack. At that moment I felt an emptiness deep down inside, a fear and desperation of not knowing what to do. And granted I was several hundred miles away in Houston, Texas but the connection I had to my fellow Americans was nothing I had ever felt before. Moreover, never had I felt such patriotism and solidarity as an American like I did this day, and the days, weeks that followed.

Reflecting on the events of 9/11 brings sadness and tears to my eyes. Let's not forget about the government policies that continue to build hatred toward the U.S., and above all let us not forget about the survivors and those victims who were lost on this day.

I've included a link to this article on About.com: Ramon's Gay Life Blog, titled Remembering the Gay and Lesbian Victims of 9/11.

http://gaylife.about.com/b/2008/09/11/remembering-the-gay-and-lesbian-victims-of-911.htm

Ursa Lingua

While surfing the net this evening I stumbled upon a great site that I highly recommend – Resources for Bears. Here’s the URL: http://resourcesforbears.com/

What I found most interesting was The Natural Bears Classification System (NBCS) also known as The Bear Codes. According to the website, this code was created in 1989 by Bob Donahue and Jeff Stoner, and it takes into account the diversity found within the Bear community. Muchas gracias guys!!!!

I won’t attempt to interpret or explain the code on this blog but please visit the resourceforbears.com website. It gives a great explanation of the bear code itself, how it was developed, and it also provides a link that generates your very own bear code by simply selecting from nifty drop down menus. It’s totally dummy proof.

My bearcode is: B3 c++ f g+ k m+ q- s t-

Any Muscle Daddybears interested?

LatinCub

My Journey to Beardom

It's 11.54 p.m. in Los Angeles, California as I begin writing my first post to this blog. This is exciting for me as I’ve recently began embracing my inner bear, and I owe it to someone I dearly love. It was he who spoke the words I had heard so many times, “accept who you are.” You’d think that after having been an out gay man for a little over 15 years I would have accepted myself for who I am, but I suppose learning who we are isn’t a finite experience.

Quite the opposite holds true. As human beings, as men and women, as gay men and women, as bears, cubs, or whatever group or community you identify with, this process of “identifying” is just that, an on-going process that brings us closer to at-one-ment with ourselves.

After hearing those words of wisdom I realized that I spent so many of the 15 years as a gay man trying to fit into a gay community that I identified with at a certain level; however, there was a part of me that felt out of place in "mainstream" gaydom.

As luck would have it my move to Los Angeles exposed me to other parts of the gay community I never explored. Shortly after my trek to the West coast I found my niche. It was like a second coming out for me -- I came out as a bear cub to myself and to my friends.

Some of my friends found it funny, and still tease me, but in all honesty it was very therapeutic for me. My longing for 6 pack abs and a ripped body disappeared. Don't get me wrong. Being healthy and fit are still a very important part of my life, but I accepted that I would never be a skinny man.

On top of that, I realized that I could be loved as a thick, healthy man. Not only did I find my inner bear cub but I found my inner bearstud. This was quite a transformational experience.

So there you have it. This is why I'm here - to connect with others who might identify with my own experience. Moreover, I hope this forum brings newbies and veterans of the bear community together so that we could find our inner bearstud , our future huz-bearstud or discuss topics and issues relevant to our community.

Grrrrrr,
LatinCub