North Texas, South Texas, East Texas, West Texas and Austin

LOL...North Texas, South Texas, East Texas, West Texas and Austin. We would then move to the free state of Austin. I always love his videos.  I'm referring to my partner, Peter's recent posting of "Can Texas Secede From The Union?"  The video was so smart and hilarious.

Yeah, I could definitely see many of our out of state liberal friends wanting this state to leave. Hell, sometimes I can't even stand many of its' ill conceived policies run by an idiot that was voted in by idiots. The fact is though that with its' faults it also has many promises like lots of available area to live, work and start a family in a climate that's lovely minus the occasional hurricane and constant humidity. This with its' thriving economy, and promise of jobs and lower taxes and costs of living, many outsiders have flocked to this state in a mass migration.

The great news is that the people that are moving are coming from more expensive and liberal states, and they are not ashamed to bring their views with them. This state can only be the crazy conservative state for so long before its' changing population starts voting the other way, turning the state blue. It will happen. If things like gay marriage and immigration rights are no longer a party issue then it won't be too long before the conservative religious parts of the republican party just stop voting, as they're threatening to do now. Once that happens, along with cultural changes and time, Texas will be a thriving liberal state and Rick Perry will be a relic from the past. We will party when that day arrives.
 
I cannot wait. Texas will not be its' own country. It's heading in the complete opposite direction to one day be just like the other large, liberal states in our country, and there's nothing that these conservatives can do about it except move. Problem is that the only countries that still share their views are third worlds parts of Africa and the middle east, and last time I checked most bible belt religious fanatics don't really like black or brown people. They could build a space ship and colonize another planet in their conservative image, but that would mean they'd have to believe in science first to actually accomplish such a feat. 

The only option I could think of left would be if God himself came down and brought them all up to heaven, which I'm sure they're all hoping for. Only, last time I checked, God didn't approve of haters. Tough luck people. Sucks to be you. Your time has past and our victory is nigh! Someone hit the play button to Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" already. 

Nobody Forces Us To Eat Anything by Ryan Lopez

So on October, 2011 I offended someone with one of my blog posts, Foods That Will Make You Fat - Issue No. 25.   

I think I gave a pretty decent response, but suffice it to say, I discontinued the series with the hope of bringing it back someday.

But before I bring back the series - my partner, Ryan gave a response I'd like to share with my readers.  I thought it was great.

"nobody forces us to eat anything, unless you consider the peer pressure to 'be with the group and not a hater' when it comes to eating with family, friends or co-workers. Even so, most restaurants will nowadays at least try to offer something healthy to everyone that is knowledgeable about their health and cares to not over indulge.  Still, if I was raised in a family that never ate healthy and this food is all the food that I knew, I might not be aware of what is healthy and what is not. Granted, it's not hard to see how the sh!t on this particular blog, "Foods that will make you fat," will undoubtedly make you fat, but at the same time until people really started saying something about the health concerns that fast food brings with it, these restaurants had no healthy options. If they did they more than likely were not that healthy to begin with. 

My point is this: While there may be some frivolous lawsuits out there, lawyers aren't cheap and time is money, especially when you consider the expensive attorney you'd need to hire to try and take on a fast food corporation as well as the time it'd take for this case to go through the numerous courts just to possibly get anywhere with any results whatsoever. It's not easy to just go and sue and get money. The people that decided to bravely take this journey on are mainly interested in having their message heard and making change. Take the infamous hot coffee incident that, for the most part, everybody has heard of but no one truly knows the details. A woman at McDonald's spills hot coffee on herself, sues because the coffee is too hot, wins and makes money off her own mistake.

Sounds horrible right? 

But what if I told you that the coffee was so hot that it seared the flesh off her bones. When the poor woman got to the hospital the doctors could see the internal muscle and bones inside the two gaping holes in her legs that the hot coffee had made. She needed multiple skin graphs to fix the injury that her insurance wouldn't cover and that she couldn't afford. So she sues McDonald's for two reasons: To not only get the money that she needs to pay back the debt she owes on her surgery, but to also get McDonald's to lower the temperature on their coffee so this suffering could not happen to anyone else. 

While suing McDonald's because you're fat sounds outright ridiculous, it'd help get them to change what they offer so at least there's something somewhat decent to eat there now for all of us health conscious people out there. But what about those that aren't and all they can afford to feed themselves, as well as their children, is a quick fast food meal? At least those places now give not only alternate food options but possibly what their food products now contain regarding calories and grams of fat. They didn't do this on their own. Somebody had to have the bravery to stand up to them and say something. So next time you may thing about criticizing the "lazy, good for nothing" plaintiff that's suing somebody, or consider standing up and applauding tort reform (lawsuit reform) please check out the documentary, "Hot Coffee". Yes, a plug at this point doesn't sound too good, but it really opened my eyes to what's happening to the courts in our country and how it doesn't look too good for our future unless we stand up and say something right now. Change does not happen by itself, it takes people to make it happen, as well as a whole lot of bitching. I appreciate what these people have done for us, and we all owe them a big thank you. I won't forget it, will you?" 

- Ryan Joseph Lopez

Quoted: Days of Future Past by Ryan Joseph Lopez

"You just can't debate with crazy, or practically anyone anymore. The world is changing for the better, but some people just can't accept that. All they have left to hold on to are their beliefs. When those once common ideas are now considered outdated, irrational and even hateful, and can be justly proven so, people get angry and desperate and will fight to the very end to protect an ideology that they hold sacred. It's an unfortunate sign of the most conservative parts of the Republican party. Never give up, never surrender, never admit you're wrong, just keep screaming nonsense until you drown out your opponent and every last one of his facts. Well I have a few facts to share myself: Gay people can get married without the sky falling or your family being affected in anyway, shape or form aside from the possibility of them not sharing your homophobic hate. Black people can be in charge of a country that once considered them property. Being a Liberal is not the same thing as being weak. Trust me. We fight against income inequality in the Occupy Movement. We fight for the right to unionize in Wisconsin, Indiana, Arizona and any other states controlled by a Republican majority that wishes for it to be a "right to work" state. We fight for the health of our women when conservative wolves in pink sheep's clothing attempt to break down Planned Parenthood. And we fight for our right to marry the person we love to not only receive the same benefits that everyone else gets, but to also simply show that we are no different from any straight couple and hence should not be treated differently as such. California is another footstep in the marathon that is the fight for marriage equality and gay rights everywhere. We will continue fighting. We are not weak. We are stronger than ever and we will fight for Obama this year and we will win. We must. This country needs to show the world that we stand for common sense, compassion and an ability to inspire hope in others by getting back up after being knocked down hard. Screaming at the top of your lungs until you can't hear the facts just won't do for this country of ours, and neither will defeat, hatred, or the desire to divide. We can come together to make sure our country continues to succeed and head in its' current, correct direction. We can vote for Obama 2012, because hope is nothing without people to believe in it and change is impossible without people to fight for it."  

- Ryan Joseph Lopez on Blade7184's post 

"Quoted: Miley Cyrus on Her Marriage Equality Tattoo"

As The World Turns

You just can't debate with crazy, or practically anyone anymore. The world is changing for the better, but some people just can't accept that. All they have left to hold on to are their beliefs.  When those once common ideas are now considered out-dated, irrational and even hateful, and can be proven justly so, people get angry, desperate, and will fight to the very end to protect an ideology that they hold sacred. 

It's an unfortunate sign of the most conservative parts of the Republican party. Never give up, never surrender, never admit you're wrong, just keep screaming nonsense until you drown out your opponent and every last one of his facts.

Well I have a few facts to share myself - Gay people can get married without the sky falling or your family being affected in anyway, shape or form aside from the possibility of them not sharing your homophobic hate. Black people can be in charge of a country that once considered them property. 

conservative poster hating liberals

Being a Liberal is not the same thing as being weak. Trust me. We fight against income inequality in the Occupy Movement. We fight for the right to unionize in Wisconsin, Indiana, Arizona and any other states controlled by a Republican majority that wishes for it to be a "right to work" state. We fight for the health of our women when conservative wolves in pink sheep's clothing attempt to break down Planned Parenthood. And we fight for our right to marry the person we love to not only receive the same benefits that everyone else gets, but to also simply show that we are no different from any straight couple and hence should not be treated differently as such. 

California is another footstep in the marathon that is the fight for marriage equality and gay rights everywhere. We will continue fighting. We are not weak. We are stronger than ever and we will fight for Obama this year and we will win. We must. This country needs to show the world that we stand for common sense, compassion and an ability to inspire hope in others by getting back up after being knocked down hard. Screaming at the top of your lungs until you can't hear the facts just won't do for this country of ours, and neither will defeat, hatred, or the desire to divide.

We can come together to make sure our country continues to succeed and head in its' current, correct direction. We can vote for Obama 2012, because hope is nothing without people to believe in it and change is impossible without people to fight for it. 

- Ryan Joseph Lopez (Blade 7184 blogger) in reference to Miley Cyrus' marriage equality tattoo

Documentaries To Watch: The Bully Project

If you don't want to read any of what I have to say, at least view the trailer down below.

Sometimes I just want to go back to a school, ANY school, and be some kind of instructor, teacher, counselor, or monitor that just watches out for these kids. I can see how spotting every bullying situation could be difficult for teachers and administrators alike, but at the same time I was harassed for years consistently and not once, NOT ONCE, did any teacher or administrator do a fucking thing about it.  Until my mom forced them to.

Over a period of four years, 5-8 grade, at lunch, in class, in the locker room, at physical education, in the halls.... there wasn't a single place except maybe the bathroom where I wasn't tormented. This behavior in school will never stop until something is done. Now that I think about it, only you can stop someone from bullying another person when you witness it in action. Trying to handle it through force or punishment isn't possible. Only through educating the students as early as kindergarten on why bullying is wrong and hurtful will be the only way to stop all this pain.

These kids need to be taught how horrible it can feel to be on the other end of the jokes, harassment and ridicule, but also learn how easy and misguided one can be to join in on the fun - taking part without realizing the damage they have done.

Teach them the power of words and how much more of an impact they can sometimes be than a fist to the face. Words can stop bullying and create new friends, yet still have the ability to cause unimaginable pain depending on how they're used.

Show them how being smart or small or different or gay is not the equivalent to being a freak, something wrong or a very bad thing. Being unique is a gift. It's special because you're not like everyone else. You're you, and you're great just for being who you are. It's a message that isn't shared enough today.

But no matter what is done in the schools to teach our kids to be kind to each other, as long as they continue to see horrible examples of bigotry, hate and abuse set by our politicians, pastors and parents, there will never be an end to the suffering and fear some kids face every day they go to school. This can be changed. It can no longer be accepted as a rite of passage or child's play, and to anyone out there that would dare call the protection of a gay child from anti-gay rhetoric "freedom of religion" or "anti-Christian bigotry"...... to hell with you.

I know this is a very inappropriate stance to take and is the absolute worst way to try and bring all people together to stop this epidemic....but seriously...to hell with you! Open your mind, your heart and your eyes and see that these kids are dying right in front of us. They are innocent and have done nothing to deserve this, but when you hide behind your religious beliefs to cloak your hatred and bigotry you are the bullies. You are the instigators. You are the cause of this pain and suffering that no loving God would condone, and you are an accessory to murder if you do not change your words and actions that have farther reaching consequences then you could ever imagine. Stop worrying about the life of an unborn fetus and start caring about the child that cries himself to sleep every night because he knows he's different, he knows he can't change, and all he wants is the torture and pain to stop so that he can truly be loved just the way he is. Will you love him for who he is or condemn him for being a sinner? What would Jesus really do.

We all have the power to stop this ongoing tragedy. Whether it be taking action to enact anti-bullying laws, speaking to your school administrators or simply having a conversation with your child. I beg all of you to do something, anything, to try and attempt to eradicate this evil that has been going on in our schools for way too long. I can't say this enough but these kids are dying, and unless we act, more will continue to have their lives cut short by this catastrophe that is bullying. Don't be the parent standing over the grave of your 12 year old child. Don't be the school official that didn't intervene and say something. Don't be the person that talks about religious values when you can't even comprehend what they truly mean. Don't be a bully and don't be a bystander that does nothing. Be a hero. It's definitely not an easy task and it never will be, but someone has to do it. There is no Superman. There is only you and your ability to love and be kind to others, over an easy choice to hate. You have the power. Make the right decision. Stop bullying today.

Almost a year ago, my partner Peter posted this trailer on his blog, Blade 7184 that moved me beyond words, and it will finally be released on March 9, 2012.  Please watch it, it would mean a lot if you did.

Amputated Mermaids, Puerto Rican Badasses and the Wrath of Kahn: What was almost The Edge of Glory

"This video raped the song in the ass and left it to die on the street corner, right next to the hooker and her saxophone player." Ouch. That was just one of the hundreds of glittering comments left by a somewhat disappointed little monster after watching Lady Gaga's newest music video, The Edge of Glory. Granted, the video wasn't what I expected but was this hating really necessary? Sure I eagerly anticipated the theatrical release of another one of Gaga's music videos after its' announcement only days ago. Thoughts raced through my head about what ballsy, outlandish thing she could possibly think of and do this time that could somehow outdo her previous work on Judas. By the time the video was finally displayed, for all the world to see, on the most recent episode of So You Think You Can Dance, my heart was beating in excitement as adrenaline ferociously pumped through my little monster veins....for the first minute. The chorus soon followed along with not much of anything else. Same scene, same outfit, same cast, same Gaga and then it was over. The video left you with a feeling not of a simmering sensation from such a visual orgasm, as most of her videos did, but instead more like that of an empty, lifeless, deflated rubber balloon that just finished squeaking out its' last bit of air. What the F*CK was that? Why would Gaga do something so...boring? Most of all: Why would you air a music video on a TV show that's only willing to play half of it? (Screw you So You Think You Can Dance! ) Many questions needed answering. After some thorough online research, things slowly began to surface.

After the initial showing of the video the Gaga fan forums were ablaze with not the most prettiest responses and comments, but one rumor that began circulating was that Gaga and the video's director had "creative differences" and then parted ways. Originally it was believed that the fight was with Laurieann Gibson, Gaga's creative director, Judas' video co-producer and close friend, but after cheerfully accepting the award for international video of the year alongside Gaga at Canada's Much Music Awards it seemed that Laurieann was still allowed inside the Haus of Gaga. In reality, Joseph Khan, who had previously worked with Lady Gaga on LoveGame and Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say), was hired to direct the music video for the Edge of Glory. Apparently though, it just wasn't meant to be. The New York Post's Pop Wrap blog reported that Kahn, despite agreeing to create the video, left production after arguing with Gaga while filming. Chancler Haynes, Kahn's on-set editor, according to Pop Wrap, said that Gaga's and Kahn's idea for the film was a constant struggle of opinions.

"Gaga changed her mind and told Joseph what to do. His hands were tied. The director just didn't have control over Gaga after she started making changes [and] Joseph's concept died," stated Haynes.

The concept in question varies depending on who you ask. Supposedly E! News obtained a casting call notice for the video which asks for a "Puerto Rican or Dominican type badass" who "must be willing to kiss Lady Gaga", "Couture Doctors" who will wear smocks and black gloves", a "male or female on-air reporter", and "a group of military men to hold M16 rifles" according to MTV news. Pop Wrap also states that several sets had been created for the video. 

Images of these scenes were leaked on the web and then confirmed by Haynes which included "...a hospital scene, the Brooklyn Bridge, and a big underwater mermaid scene." 

If you wonder how this might have turned out like, as I did, just leave it to Gaga drop clues while still keeping us guessing. On June 15th Gaga performed at Le Grand Journal, a French talk show, and gave us a possible sneak peak of what the mystery video might have looked like.  Continue reading, and view video here.

The Anonymous Hypocrite

Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of waking up to an "anonymous comment" on my blog. I don't mind anonymous writers, I really don't. But when it's something like what he/she wrote, then that's a whole different story. It not only shows they're a coward for not revealing who they were, but they lack the courage to talk to me in a civilized manner.

The commenter actually wrote on one of my partner's editorials he posted back in April - "The Promotion of Hatred Exists".

Here's what the anonymous writer wrote:

When gays use the "when did you know you were straight" argument, it's silly..straight is the de-facto normal..if people weren't straight...there would be no people...

Also the "Some People are Gay Get over it" , well Some people don't like gays get over it..people dont have to like a behavior they find repulsive..gays like to compare their "struggle" to race, but a person skin color is not a behavior or a sexual act.

I was none too pleased and decided to leave them a comment of my own, and this what I had to say...

You say that being straight is normal, because without you there would be no people is almost laughable, if not the most foolish thing to think. As you know, billions of people around the world "believe in a GOD," and these same people know that there was no one who had sex to make Adam and Eve, God made them separately, they were "Born that way." Furthermore, when God banished Cain to another land, there were already other people there, you think they procreated too? Being straight is "not normal" You were born that way.

I hate to inform you of this, but yes, one can choose to be "straight." It doesn't mean they will be, but they can surely try. Being Heterosexual or Homosexual is something you cannot choose to be. I didn't wake up one morning when I was 2 or 3, and say... "oh I think I'll be gay today."

"IF" I had a choice, do you really think I'd want to choose the one where it would condemn me the most? Do you think I'd want to choose the one where people would make fun of me, spit on me, and call me names? No, I wouldn't choose that for myself.

Gay is not a behavior, it is who we are. The act of having sex is a behavior, and we don't have to like your sexual acts, just as much as you don't have to like ours.

You can "choose" to hate or love. I chose to love everyone, because this is how God created us. I have known I was gay since a child - I had two parents who loved me unconditionally. My father taught me how to take an engine out of a car, farm thousands of acres of land, and took me fishing. And a mother who made sure that when I left their home, I knew how to take care of myself by teaching me how to cook, wash my clothes, and fix my bed. They were a good Christian couple who took us to church every Wednesday and Sunday, and I'm sure they wish I had turned out differently, But I didn't. They didn't do anything wrong, I've always known, they've always known. You think my parents would want their child to be made fun of? Hell no. If they or I could choose we would.

I am what God made me to be.

The Promotion of Hatred Exists

Thank you so much for the blog you posted yesterday, my love. Yeah, Bryan Fischer got me really upset Tuesday night when he talked about us like a disease in need of a cure. And he continued to irritate me when he referenced us being gay, a "lifestyle".

Exercise, clothing, vacationing, and how you present yourself are a lifestyle. A monogamous or non-monogamous relationship are also considered a lifestyle or a choice, but the actual attraction and love two individuals of the same gender share is NO lifestyle, and it's definitely not a choice. This has to be taught to everyone who uses that terminology, because it's really starting to piss me off.

The other thing this guy was trying to enforce, was that we, "the gays," are the ones who brought AIDS to America. What is this, 1980? Yes, men having sex with men are still the largest group of people that get HIV, but when I pull up the CDC website, I read that gay men only account for 53%, not 91% like that bastard claimed last night.

Gay men that use injection drugs count for another 4%, Straights make up 31% and straight injection drug users make up an additional 12% as reported in 2006 by the CDC in the US. This disease "may have" begun in the gay community, and I use "may have," because it's a theory. It is not a "gay only" disease. In fact, worldwide heterosexual intercourse does make up the majority of HIV cases.

If Mr. Family Values wants to help us out with the AIDS epidemic, he should have taught us how to safely have man to man sex - He shouldn't hide and shame it back to the 1980s. Sex education isn't the only way to promote safe sex; The American people need to have proper education when it comes to being gay in this country. In the 1950's the homosexuals were labeled as "child predators," when in fact, the child predators were actually straight males or females. Granted, if you check out most of the underage twinks at the clubs who can blame them. (Cough, cough) Kidding! Then came 1969 with the stonewall riots and other displays of the GLBT community fighting for its' rights. After the era of, "We're here, we're queer, get used to it" came the 1980's and HIV/AIDS epidemic. A new fight began, not only for our rights, but for our lives as well.

I take pride in knowing that our gay community has been proactive when it comes to promoting STD awareness, and spreading the message across that having safe sex is really the most important thing in this day and age - we've come a long way since then. Unfortunately, some gay idiots think they're immortal, don't care, have a death wish - I don't know, but they don't play safe. HIV and AIDS are not a thing of the past. I tell myself that quite possibly they don't know, but with the internet and all it's glory how can you not. Despite my assumption of a non-ignorant youth, there still needs to be some sort of education. Bring back mandatory sex education classes in school that talks more about gay sex and protection versus abstinence only, and I guarantee that the HIV rates will drop. Not talking about gay and straight sex and how to protect yourself against it, is what is leading to the spread of all these STDs and the struggle to treat it.

Going back to the education of "being gay," the American society needs to know that being gay is not about being suicidal, ashamed, closeted, drugged up, dying of AIDS, a villain, a loner, or someone to feel sorry for. Show someone that is proud of who they are - that is in a loving relationship with their parents and a partner. Show the public that gay exists outside of Project Runway. That gay kids in our schools are being bullied, That while others may be strong, others need our help. Glee is educating the public in the best way possible, and because of them hopefully the American people will be even more accepting of us. Glee has helped educate the public in the best way possible, and because of them hopefully the American people will be more accepting of us. This episode, which aired on Tuesday spread a message of acceptance and self-love; And with hope, it was heard by the hundreds of bullied and suicidal teens out there - possibly saving their life.

Of course the "American Family Association" doesn't want this and they'll say anything to scare America back to the 1950's when the homosexual was the boogie man predator. The sad thing is that by promoting hate and shouting "Gay is Bad" has serious consequences. All it does is make an innocent child think they're different - like they're the worst possible thing that exists on our world. God does not promote this hatred, so SHAME ON THEM for portraying it.

Unfortunately, they and organizations like them will always be around, because someone's always got to hate. Call it religious freedom or freedom of speech, it's still hate no matter how you call it. Like the Ku Klux Klan, the AFA will one day shrink to almost nothing. Until then, things like the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, as well as other major gay civil rights accomplishments will continue to make the word GAY a less uncomfortable subject to talk about. Maybe one day we will have all our rights, including the ability to marry, and we can all thank Glee for it's positive influence on gay people. Even if Kurt is annoying at times, I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.

QAF and What This Show Meant To Me

I was reflecting on a show my partner blogged about on March 1st. It was a television series I watched while I was a teenager, and unlike any I had ever seen - I watched it in hiding to say the least.

Queer As Folk was such a beautiful television series that our closest friends probably would have never seen if not for my partner and I, and that truly is very sad. Though our generation has improved and evolved in regards to gay issues than from the past, we are still very much in dire need of an "in your face" honest and real gay television series. Aside from the L word there has not been anything close to what Queer as Folk has brought to the table for gays everywhere. Dante's Cove? Give me a break.

Sure we get our spots and cameos on other shows and if we're very lucky we may even get a main character role like on Brother's and Sisters or Shameless or almost any reality TV show airing, but it's not Queer as Folk. Maybe that's for the better though. Maybe nothing should ever try and take the place of such a unique thing. It broke boundaries and help paved the way for all these gay characters and gay friendly mentality to open up not only on TV but in our society as well.

I remember buying the entire series from a market in Taiwan, I think, on Ebay. I opened the mail after running upstairs to hide in my room and then later at night I'd watch them all on my laptop, under the sheets, with the volume on low, hiding from my parents while getting a glimpse into gay life that I so wanted to go out and enjoy.

Eventually I did and in almost the exact same way as Justin did when he took his first steps down Liberty Avenue. He also came out to his parents, found his true love in an older man and made many gay and accepting friends and family along the way. All of that I've accomplished too, and though I honestly believe that it would have happened eventually, I have no doubt that watching the cast of QAF get through their fictional lives, ultimately helped me get through and on with my very real one.

It's been so great ever since I came out at 19. My God, almost seven years now and yet it truly feels like an eternity ago. This generation younger than me will never know QAF and it really makes me cry. It's up to us "older" gays to never forget the power and impact that one brilliant show had on all of us years ago. Every new generation will have unlimited tools at their disposal to help them with coming out and growing up gay while being happy and knowledgeable, but as we've all seen there are still suicides and there are still gay bashing's across the country. There are still anti-gay policies in the work place, in our schools, in our homes and in our government too. There is still hate. There is no full equality yet. BUT, there is and always will be hope and change and a new, inspirational youth that will never give up until they get the same rights that everybody else already does. They may not all get to experience Queer as Folk, but they're sure living in a world and community that's already been improved because of it.

I still miss it even today, but I will never forget what those wonderful actors, writers, producers and all the people involved help create to entertain but ultimately help me become the proud gay man that I am today. If any of them are reading this now, however unlikely that may be, please know one thing. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

Get Out - You Have No Rights!

One day, homophobia such as what my partner posted the other day will no longer be acceptable in almost all parts of our culture, the way talking about blacks or jews just isn't right. Most straight people still aren't aware of all the different rights and privileges that they get but we still don't. Just in my real estate class today they talk about how the Fair Housing Act covers race, religion, sex, ethnicity, economic status, etc but when the teacher specifically says that sexual orientation isn't covered people still gasp and attempt to verify her comment with only, "really?". I look down in the book and in bold letters it reads "SEXUAL PREFERENCE IS NOT PROTECTED IN THE FAIR HOUSING ACT." The bastards don't even have the courtesy to say sexual orientation.

The teachers ask the class if a landlord could advertise his rental property with the phrase "NO GAYS" at the bottom of the listing. The class then reluctantly responds, "yes", as she reminds us that this could be a trick question on the test.

It is horrible knowing that something as simple as the right not to be kicked out of our own home because we're gay doesn't exist in our country, but at the same time it's encouraging to see a room full of older straight people be stunned and bothered to learn that we don't have this simple equal right. Times are a changing for the better and I honestly believe that if we have Obama for another term that we just might get laws like the fair housing act finally amended to include protection for the gays.

Unfortunately, if someone like Huckabee were to ever win, you can forget about further progress and pray that our most recent achievements don't get erased from existence. Having a religious President is one thing, being under the control and rule of a conservative preacher that could not possibly change his views on the separation of church and state creates a U.S.A. that I hope and pray I never have to see.