Loving and Living

I have been dating my high school sweetheart for a little over three and half years now; which I believe in gay years is about seven years, but anywho we love each other greatly and have been sharing an apartment for nearly a year. Thankfully we have not encountered any hatred or prejudice or discrimination of any kind (which is a big deal for such a red state). Life is good at the Acosta-Labrado apartmenthold, we have two cats (the kids), a lot of laughter, piles of holey socks, bickerings over chores and such, and most importantly, a lot of love.
I read a story on the Advocate website (www.advocate.com) about the home of a gay couple in Clayton, N.C. that fell victim to a hate-crime. While out of the house, the couple received a phone call that their home had gone up in flames. Everything that was in the home was burnt to ashes and the gentlemen themselves were too distraught to even make personal statements for the article. The was definitely an act of hatred against homosexuals stated the investigative reports, within the past year the couple's home has been tagged with derogatory slurs, they have received harassing notes in their mailbox, and their tires of their vehicle had been slashed.
My partner and I plan on moving into a house together in the future, and it is news like this that disheartens me to an unfathomable point. Are going to have to live in fear for the safety of us and our possessions? Are going to have to give off the appearance that we are brothers or friends and pretend that we haven't spent years together; years together learning and loving and growing and earning the right to shelter ourselves in home together where we can continue to love and learn and hopefully raise children?
This goes beyond affecting my partner and I, this goes beyond affecting the gay and queer community, this affects everyone who's ever been denied or intimidated their rightful places in America-in the world. Estevan and I have worked so hard on making our relationship last and are working even harder on earning educations and saving from our weekend jobs so that someday we can afford our own little comfortable corner in the world. Who do these people think they are? Destroying everything that their neighbors have worked to create?
I'll tell you one thing though, I'll bet that this crime may have shattered their emotions, but has not weakened their love for each other. Despite that fact that this is sad news that gets us a little nervous about our future together, our love for one another is not at all shaken.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/02/07/Gay_Couples_Home_Destroyed_in_Arson/

You Don't Scare Us!

Austin, Texas made news last week.

Unfortunately, people weren't talking about Longhorn athletics for once.

Early Saturday morning, two members of the Shady Ladies softball team (whose male members identify as gay) were returning to their car after celebrating the start of the softball season at OCH on 4^th. OilCan Harry's is just one of Austin's happening gay night clubs located in the downtown area. Before Matthew and Emmanuel could safely make it back to their car, four men who had followed them from the club jumped out and physically assaulted the two players, all the while making profane and homophobic slurs. Matt and Emmanuel were able to fend off the attackers and contact the police who began to search the area immediately for their assailants.

Although the attackers have not been identified (it may be possible that they do not even live in Austin), I believe that their actions were intended to serve as a message to these two players and the LGBT community: your kind is not welcome here.

I'm sad to say that it took this hate crime which happened, literally, a couple of blocks from where I was to put everything into perspective.

What do I mean by this exactly?

I was downtown that night.

I didn't happen to make it down to 4^th street, but I did two weeks ago. My good friend was having a great time at Rain, another gay bar located right next to OCH. I knew a few people who were going to check out Sister's Edge II, a new lesbian bar which is also downtown.

What happened to Matthew and Emmanuel could've happened to me, my friends, any straight or LGBTQ-identified person who walked out of OCH, or Rain, or any other LGBT friendly establishment that night. Some may argue that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. If this was the case then the scores of people who frequent these bars every week (straight AND LGBT) need to look over their shoulder every time they walk out.

These four men are sadly mistaken if they thought that their hateful actions would resonate within the minds of Austinite's and scare us from enjoying fun, inclusive, and safe spaces. Austin is by no means perfect, but I think that the city is definitely taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety for all of it's residents. I was surprised to find out that APD quickly responded to the scene after the attack and are continuing to investigate any leads that would lead to the capture of Matt's and Emmanuels attackers.

Here is the video that aired on KXAN

And if you don't already know: A march is planned Saturday afternoon in downtown Austin in response to an anti-gay hate crime that occurred there last weekend. The march will go from Oilcan Harry’s, a gay bar on Fourth Street, to Austin City Hall.

Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill Passes House

In Laramie, WY in 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten and left for dead because he was gay. This well-known hate crime spurred much dialogue and his mother's foundation, The Matthew Sheperd Foundation. The Matthew Sheperd Hate Crimes Act (HR1592) was passed in the House recently and will be heard in the Senate on ___ (S 1105). The bill allows federal aid to be used in prosecuting crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability in addition to the already included categories like race, ethnicity, religion, etc. Here's a clip from Rachel Maddow interviewing Judy Sheperd (Matthew's mother) about the act and the recent comments by misinformed Senator Virginia Foxx (R- NC).



She is not the only one with irrational explanations for why people should not be protected from hate crimes because of their sexual orientation. Others excuses stated by EDUCATED, U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES (all Republicans), includes that "this hate crimes legislation in some ways could be considered the very definition of tyrrany," according to Representative Michelle Bachman (R- MN).

The bill clearly states, "Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution." In other words, it does not limit free speech or diverse ideas.

Representative Steve King (R- Iowa) suggested that we cannot know why people commit crimes. The two young men that killed Sheperd actually admitted that they killed him because he was gay. One of the murderer's wives stated that her husband was blatantly homophobic. Another Representative stated that "this bill would limit religious freedom in our society... a scary thought." Well, yes, if your religion says to kill people because of who they are, this country will be limiting your freedomes. We would also limit the religious freedom of those whose god tells them to kidnap and rape people. Actually, the bill would also protect hate crimes against people because of their actual or perceived religious beliefs.

Louie Gohmert (R- TX) said, "this is the federal government, the big brother that Orwell talked about, coming in to the thoughts of every individual." Not exactly... but if you were thinking about killing someone, the goverment would probably like to know. Gohmert represents East Texas, district 1 and is currently in his third term. He lives in Tyler and served temporarily as Chief Justice under Rick Perry. He also went to Texas A & M.

Who votes for these fools? Apparently, we do.

No one from Texas in the Senate sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, but in 2007, several Texans in house did:

Eddie Bernice Johnson
Shiela Jackson-Lee
Gene Green
Al Green
Charles A. Gonzalez
Lloyd Doggett

Thanks Y'all!