A man holds a sign in favor or repealing the military "don't ask, don't tell" policy during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on DADT Thursday. Photograph AP/Alex Brandon.
I will withhold comment on John McCain making a jackass of himself at the Senate hearings this past week. Well, not quite. The only consolation as we watch Obama make a shambles of American politics is the recollection that the alternative was McCain. Truly scary! But what I really wanted to note is that it turns out, according to the recent survey conducted by the military themselves, that those military personnel who are most afraid of gays are the big, brave Marines. Go figure.
James: I am so proud of of this young man for having the courage to face so many powerful adults at this meeting and standing up for his convictions. It's takes a lot of bravery, and I applaud him for it but it is a sad day when kids have to make this argument because enough adults still don't get it. I refuse to stand-by and watch our young people and fellow adults be discriminated against and bullied until those victims take their own life. No more violence, no more hate. We must stand up to these bullies and tell them that we will no longer tolerate our kids being harassed until they think the last option for them is suicide. This is unacceptable.
Regardless of what you think of homosexuality, it is utterly unconscionable for Buddhists to treat gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people as though they are less than human or vile human beings undeserving of compassion. We are called upon to have compassion for all sentient beings.
Even if you believe homosexuality to be a violation of Buddhists precepts (which I don't) it doesn't give you the right to mistreat those people. Buddha had compassion for all beings regardless of their actions. As for those who find homosexuals to be bad people and perhaps unworthy of fair treatment; Buddha had compassion for all kinds of people. Even murderers, and since homosexuals are far from being in the same category as murderers, then surely respecting the life and well-being of homosexuals shouldn't be up for debate in Buddhist circles.
If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and need someone to talk to who will listen and not judge, then I am here: jaymur-at-gmail-dot-com. There are many people who love you and want to see the best for you. If you are thinking about suicide, please reach out to someone you trust--now. You are strong than you think. I have faced many moments of depression and suicide and know what it's like to want to end your life. Please stay with us, don't give up!! There is a light at the end of every dark tunnel. You are loved--always.
Recently a wave of homophobia has gripped the nation with the news of several gay teens and college students committing suicide over bullying they received for being honest about who they are. Then, a few days ago in New York, a gang savagely beat, terrorized and tortured 3 men that they perceived to be homosexual. So, today I want to address homosexual adults and teens who feel vulnerable and afraid to be who they are:
To all the young people out there who are gay or who think they might be gay, bisexual, lesbian or trans-sexual--you are not alone. Your are not weird. You are not perverts. You are not a bad person and you certainly are not evil. There are many adults and fellow teens who are ready to welcome you into society and into our lives. You are NOTless than human and you do NOT deserve to be treated like you are less than human. It does get easier but killing yourself will not make anything better. Admittedly, high school is always hard but please know that if you are thinking about taking your life--please talk to someone.
Send me an email because I know a thing or two about suicidal thinking and being misunderstood as I have a mental illness where I have been labeled as "crazy" "weird and "different." I have had suicidal thoughts and yet I have come back from the brink every time--why? Because I know that there are people out there who love and accept me--even if I don't know them (just knowing they are out there helps so much). Don't hurt yourself--you are beautiful just the way you are. People love you deeply and care about your happiness so much. We want the best for you and to grow up happy, healthy and strong. We are working hard to make the world safer for you--don't give up because we won't give up one you!! You are a valuable person and have so much to offer the world. We all look forward to seeing how your wonderful gifts will benefit society. We love you; and don't be afraid to reach out to those who are worthy of your trust.
Talk to a teacher or a principle of your school and tell them what you are going through. They are there to protect all kids from mistreatment. Be brave because it's better to stand up for yourself then let the hateful people win. Killing yourself will only let them win. Prove to them how awesome a person you are by speaking out, and in doing so, become a hero to someone else. Imagine what your bravery would do for other teens feeling a similar way; and imagine what that bravery would do for your self-esteem. If you feel alone--I hope it helps to know that there are many adults and others who are holding your hand. Never forget that. Never. One final note--please consider this blog as a safe zone. I will not let any person commenting here to hurt you. It will be deleted before it even makes it to the comment page. Above all else--don't forget to love yourself for being just the way you are. You're just as normal as anyone else and don't let anyone tell your otherwise.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was on The View Tuesday talking about same-sex marriage and declaring that gay rights are not civil rights because gays have not had violence inflicted upon them like Blacks have.
HuckabeeSaid: "People who are homosexuals should have every right in terms of their civil rights, to be employed, to do anything they want. But that's not really the issue. I know you talked about it and I think you got into it a little bit early on. But when we're talking about a redefinition of an institution, that's different than individual civil rights. We're never going to convince each other...But here is the difference. Bull Connor was hosing people down in the streets of Alabama. John Lewis got his skull cracked on the Selma bridge."
James: So in other words gays need to be beaten and killed more often before we will grant them the right to marry??? As for marriage between a man and a women being an institution I'd remind him that segregation was an institution too and yet we ended that "separate but equal" discrimination. Civil unions are "separate but equal" too. And gays haven't faced violence? Clearly he doesn't remember Matthew Shepard who was a gay American university student who lived in the American state of Wyoming and was beaten to death by two homophobes. I live only about an hour away in northern Colorado from where he was killed. They tortured him and crushed his skull with the butt of a gun before tying him to a fence post out in the country side to die. The beating was so severe that the only areas on Shepard's face that were not covered in blood were those where his tears had washed the blood stains away. All because he was gay. Is that not violent enough for you Mike?
And what about the Holocaust, which saw at least 15,000 homosexuals slaughtered along with millions of Jews. Was that not enough violence for you Mike? Or maybe the assassination of gay San Fransisco city supervisor Harvey Milk wasn't violent enough? And what about, The death of Julio Rivera in New York City on July 2, 1990 by two men who beat him with a hammer and stabbed him with a knife because he was gay. Then there was the case of the rape and later murder of Brandon Teena, a transsexual man (1972 – 1993). The events leading to Mr. Teena's death were depicted in the movie Boys Don't Cry. Click here to read more cases of violence against homosexuals. Homosexuals have been around since man first walked the Earth and have faced horrific violence, intimidation and discrimination for eons so it is highly ignorant to say that gays haven't faced similar violence as African-Americans have here in America.
A man holds a sign in favor or repealing the military "don't ask, 
