Watch Ellen Degeneres talk to gay Boy Scout Ryan Andresen who is being denied Eagle Scout

This is a clip of Ellen Degeneres show “ellen” who invited long time Boy Scout Ryan Andresen who is being denied the organisation’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout, because he’s gay. The Boy Scouts of America have a recently affirmed policy which does not allow openly gay members. Ryan’s mother, Karen Andresen, started a petition “Boy Scouts: Don’t let your anti-gay policy deny my son his Eagle award” on Change.org which is currently signed by 376.800 people. The petition urges the leaders of Ryan’s Boy Scout Troop 212 to reject the Boy Scouts of America’s discriminatory anti-gay policy and to give Ryan Andresen the Eagle award he’s earned.

The Boy Scouts’ policy is quite remarkable considering that the Catholic Church itself does “embrace” gays. Being gay is not considered to be sinful. “Homosexual behaviour” is, however. According to the Catechism, “they  (homosexuals) must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” How generous by the way…

Check out “Scouts for Equality“, an organisation focused on changing the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policies.

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Sally Fields Amazing Speech about her gay son at the HRC Dinner

You kind of have to watch Sally Field’s amazing speech about her gay son Sam Greisman (born 1987) at the HRC Dinner. Thanks to Jamie Pettus who posted the link to the Advocate’s report at Queer Landia. Sally Fields was awarded the Human Rights Campaign’s Ally for Equality Award. In this speech she tells about her experience and support in her son’s coming out when he was 20.

“Nature made Sam, it wasn’t a choice”

A Crime Confession, Farewell to my Flowers and what it has to do with Deepwater Horizon

I have a crime to confess. I killed these once beautiful flowers in an act of gross negligence. They died of thirst this morning, well, that’s at least when I first realised their serious condition. The estimated time of death is around midnight. This time might be corrected later, though, when the autopsy is performed.

There is no doubt, however, as to who caused the flowers death. The flowers were out of water for at least three days…  It’s completely my fault… Farewell Flowers… Got them from my boyfriend which makes me feel even worse…

Obviously in an attempt to lighten me up, WordPress just recommended the following tags: Deepwater Horizon, Gulf of Mexico and BP… Serious?

 

“Coming Out”: East Germany’s first gay film that premiered at the night of the Fall of Berlin Wall

Today is a bank holiday in Germany, celebrating the German reunification on Oct 3, 1990. While the Reunification was legally completed at this date, the important fall of the Berlin Wall was on November 9 1989.

Ironically the first (and last) gay film produced in East Germany premiered at this very night, November 9 1989, the end of the DDR. The film’s name is “Coming Out” which again is quite ironic, considering the citizens of East Germany could “come out” of their country and go to West Berlin in this very night for the first time since the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961.

Philipp, a closeted teacher, is dating a female colleague. One night, by ‘accident’ he stumbles into a gay bar, meets and promptly falls in love with a young man…

The film premiered in one of my favourite cinemas in Berlin, the Kino International in Berlin Mitte.

National Wear V-Neck Day in Malaysia today

I never imagined that the Education Ministry of Malaysia would one day influence what I wear. But the day has come.

Ipohgal and Jukk888 recently reported about guidelines endorsed by the Education Ministry of Malaysia dealing with the issue how to spot gays and lesbians. According to the press  the Ministry endorsed guidelines for parents that describe symptoms of homosexuality. Apparently “being aware of the symptoms of gays and lesbians is the best way to stop it from spreading amongst students“.

The guide listed four symptoms each for gays and lesbians:

For gays:

• Muscular body and a fondness for showing off the body by wearing clothing, such as by wearing V-necks and sleeveless tops

• A preference for tight and bright coloured clothes

• An inclination to be attracted to men (they got that one right, I’m afraid)

• A tendency to carry big handbags, similar to the kinds used by women

For lesbians:

• Showing attraction to women

• Distancing themselves from women other than their girlfriends

• A preference for hanging out, sleeping and dining with women

• Absence of feelings for men

These absurd guidelines were heavily criticised. Activists organised a ‘National V-neck Day’ to oppose the guidelines encouraging people to wear a V-neck on October 1 (see the facebook group).

This encouraged me to go back deep in the closet to get out all V-necks I could find and post some pics here on WordPress…