"I Look Up When I Walk..."

I along with the rest of the world have been greatly saddened by the events unfolding in Japan. Contemplating the untold suffering has seemed at times unbearable and utterly incomprehensible, and yet everyday come new reports that the Japanese people in their typically stoic way are seeking to endure and to shore up their ravaged communities and deal with the death, loss and destruction in the only way that they know... with perseverance and determination to recover.

As the governments of many nations including my own send desperately needed aid and supplies, I realize that governments alone cannot render all the aid needed in such a time of crisis. Therefore, I've given what I can give to the International Red Cross and I've been encouraging everyone else to do the same.

As I've watched the news reports detailing the devastation and human suffering going on a world away from the comforts of my warm and safe home, I've been reminded that the Japanese have always known what to do at such times and its reflected in the words of the song below, "I look up when I walk so the tears won't fall"

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Sukiyaki
Performed by Kyu Sakamoto

(Words by Rokusuke Ei, music by Hachidai Nakamura)Released in Japan as "Ue O Muite Aruko" (I Look Up When I Walk)

U.S. No. 1 - Billboard Top 100, 1963

Phonetic Japanese Lyrics
ue o muite arukou
namida ga kobore naiyouni
omoidasu harunohi
hitoribotchi no yoru

ue o muite arukou
nijinda hosi o kazoete
omoidasu natsunohi
hitoribotchi no yoru

shiawase wa kumo no ueni
shiawase wa sora no ueni

ue o muite arukou
namida ga kobore naiyouni
nakinagara aruku
hitoribotchi no yoru

whistling

omoidasu akinohi
hitoribotchi no yoru

kanashimi wa hosino kageni
kanashimi wa tsukino kageni

ue o muite arukou
namida ga kobore naiyouni
nakinagara aruku
hitoribotchi no yoru

whistling


Literal English Translation
I look up when I walk so the tears won't fall
Remembering those happy spring days
But tonight I'm all alone

I look up when I walk, counting the stars with tearful eyes
Remembering those happy summer days
But tonight I'm all alone

Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Happiness lies above the sky

I look up when I walk so the tears won't fall
Though my heart is filled with sorrow
For tonight I'm all alone

whistling

Remembering those happy autumn days
But tonight I'm all alone

Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon

I look up when I walk so the tears won't fall
Though my heart is filled with sorrow
For tonight I'm all alone

whistling

*******

"Fear Eats the Soul"

"Never Be Ashamed Of Who You Are..."

School District Will Pay $75,000 To Settle Discrimination Claim By Gay Student Teacher

By Dominique Fong

February 11, 2011

BEAVERTON, OREGON -- The Beaverton School District will pay $75,000 to settle a discrimination complaint by a student teacher who was reassigned last fall for talking to a fourth-grader about gay marriage.

Seth Stambaugh and the district reached a settlement after mediation, according to a joint statement released Friday.

"We're very happy with the way things are moving forward," said Lake Perriguey, Stambaugh's attorney. Perriguey said his client would not be available to comment.

Stambaugh will finish his nine-month internship at Sexton Mountain Elementary School in June and plans to graduate this summer from Lewis & Clark College, Perriguey said. Stambaugh said he would donate a minimum of $10,000 from the settlement to Outside In and P:ear, two Portland nonprofits that serve homeless and disadvantaged youth, his attorney said.

As part of the agreement with Stambaugh, the school district will "provide leadership training concerning issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression," according to the statement.

The district has hired two consultants to lead six workshops for the superintendent, administrators and staff from the teaching and learning department, said Maureen Wheeler, the district's spokeswoman.

The district expects to expand education about these issues to principals and faculty this fall, she added.

"We're going to move forward from this," Wheeler said. "We've learned a lot in becoming a more inclusive organization."

Stambaugh, a 23-year-old graduate student studying elementary education at Lewis & Clark, filed a complaint with the district, claiming he was discriminated against because of his sexual orientation.

In October, a 9-year-old Sexton Mountain student asked why Stambaugh wasn't married. Stambaugh, who is gay, replied that it was not legal for him to marry another man. A parent overheard the conversation and complained to the district.

After district officials talked to Stambaugh's advisers at Lewis & Clark, the college transferred the student teacher to a Portland school.

The decision was based on concerns about Stambaugh's "professional judgment" and the appropriateness of the conversation, district officials said. The district does not have policies dealing with student teachers, who also are known as interns.

How and when teachers can reveal personal information is part of the teacher-training program, said officials at Lewis & Clark, which each year sends about 150 student teachers to Portland-area schools.

The case stirred widespread discussion about discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Twenty-seven Sexton Mountain teachers signed a letter against prejudice and called on the district to uphold higher standards.

Others shared their concerns with Beaverton Superintendent Jerry Colonna, who heard testimony from gay and lesbian staff, a gay rights organization, a diversity committee and elementary school parents.

By the end of October, the district reversed the decision. Within two weeks, Stambaugh was reinstated to his original classroom, and the district adopted a resolution to affirm its policies of diversity and nondiscrimination.

Jeana Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, an organization that advocates equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said Friday she recognized the district's effort to change its actions.

"This is an unfortunate situation that has very effectively been turned into an opportunity where all students and staff can work, learn and grow in a welcoming, safe and equitable community," she said.

Frazzini applauded the district's strengthened rules against discrimination. "There's every indication that they're headed in the right direction," she said.

******


"Fear Eats the Soul"

"The End of Don't Ask, Don't Tell...?"

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"Born This Way..."

A great project!

Visit my page on Paul's blog here

"This Is The Face Of Bravery..."

Swedish Footballer Anton Hysen Comes Out As Gay
Pinknews.co.uk
By Jessica Geen
9 March 2011

Swedish football player Anton Hysen has announced he is gay.

The 20-year-old came out in an interview with Offside magazine today.

Hysen, who plays for Swedish 4th tier side Utsiktens BK, is the first elite Swedish player to come out.

He told the magazine today that it was “f**ked up” that no other Swedish player had come out yet.

“I am a footballer. And gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys,” he said.

He admitted that the announcement could affect his career, but pointed out that other players had to deal with issues like racism from coaches and team bosses.

“That is their problem and not mine,” he told the magazine. “People may call me anything they want, it will just make me even more psyched. ”

The footballer is the son of former Liverpool and Fiorentina star Glenn Hysen,

Hysen senior told the magazine he was pleased his son had decided to come out.

*******


"Fear Eats the Soul"

"The Truth Shall Set You Free..."

“I have concluded that any system sustained by hatred, any theology that acts with deliberate cruelty to others and laughs at the suffering it causes, any ideology that marginalizes a group of people based on whom they choose to love is morally bankrupt and I reject it.”

- Nate Phelps, son of Westboro Baptist Church leader, Fred Phelps

The rest of the story here

"In The News Today..."

Gays Protest Jury Duty Over Lack of Equality





March 11, 2011
By Beth Fertig

It appears that gays protesting for equal rights have a new message: that they can't serve as impartial jurors when called to serve.

I was called to jury duty in Manhattan State Supreme Court on Thursday. On two separate occasions, I heard gay men tell a judge during the voir dire process that they didn't think they could fairly serve on a jury.

The first occurred in the morning session. When asked if he could be an impartial juror, the man stated that he wasn't given full civil rights by the legal system. Judge Laura Ward looked stunned. She repeated her question and again the man said he honestly didn't feel he could be impartial because gays are denied certain rights such as marriage. The judge told him everyone is treated equally in her courtroom. When he objected again she excused him from the case but told him he'd be called back on other cases.

In other words, his jury duty wasn't over.

Later that afternoon, while screening jurors for the same criminal case, another man told Ward he couldn't be impartial because he is gay. He mentioned that he's been in a relationship for 18 years with the same man, but that they still can't get legally married. He was excused from the case.

It's not clear if the two protests were related or if they were in response to anything in particular. But last week, a 26-year-old actor named Jonathan Lovitz used very similar language when he told a different Manhattan judge that he didn't think he could be an impartial juror. Lovitz wrote about his experience on Facebook and it's since gone viral over social media.

When contacted by WNYC, Lovitz said he had never been much of a political activist. But he said he was reading about gay marriage on his Blackberry while waiting to be called for a jury on March 1 in a Manhattan civil court. When the judge started asking people if they could be fair and impartial, he said he answered, "I can't possibly be an impartial judge of a citizen when I am considered a second class one in the eyes of this justice system."

He added, "It just struck a chord with me."

Lovitz said he was very nervous and saw some people smile approvingly while others rolled their eyes. He was excused from the case and gave the same answer the next day when called back for a different case. He insists he wasn't just trying to get out of jury duty.

"It's another example of civil disobedience which we're all taught to respect and admire from the day we're in elementary school civics classes," he said, referring to the American Revolution and the Civil Rights marches.

Lovitz said he's received hundreds of messages through Facebook and has been contacted by various web sites and news outlets. He says most people are supportive but a few said he's chosen a "frivolous" form of protest and he's responded by suggesting they pick another way to demonstrate against not being treated equally. But he hopes his form of protest takes off as more gays and lesbians object to jury duty. He wants lawmakers to see they're going to lose a "significant portion of their jury pool" if laws such as those against same-sex marriage don't change.

"States are going to realize that if they don't integrate LGBT citizens into the same laws that apply to everyone else, civil disobedience will only begin with jury duty," he said.

Meanwhile, the movement hasn't caught on too broadly yet. Two gay rights groups contacted by WNYC said they aren't encouraging people to protest jury duty.

A spokesman for the New York State Office of Court Administration, David Bookstaver, said he never heard of anyone objecting to jury duty as a protest for gay marriage.

"Each juror is interviewed independently and as to a juror being excused, that's up to the judge," he said. "No one is exempt from jury duty."

********

I applaud what these men did, we are indeed second-class citizens and they are right... How can we be asked to serve others when we are still denied the most basic of essential freedoms, the right to love the person of our choosing and the recognition of that relationship in civil marriage?

I have served on juries in the past, but if called upon again, until my equality is recognized in the law, I'll do the same thing... "As a second-class citizen, I don't believe that I can serve as an impartial juror to a system that denies me so much."

"A life lived in fear is a life half-lived..."

"Same Gender Loving People - No. 597"

"Love and Happiness Endure..."

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

"A life lived in fear is a life half-lived..."

I love this program, they take on the most divisive issues and show the worst and the best of what it means to be an American. More importantly, it reveals the changing attitudes of people as we become more tolerant and accepting of one another.

"Fear Eats the Soul"

"Same Gender Loving People - No. 596"

"Love and Happiness Endure..."

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

"This Made Me Smile..."

Small Town Throws Pride Parade For Only Gay Resident

I love the satire of the Onion and this is a good example of why... At first I was offended, but when I watched it the second time, it seemed funny to me. Then when I watched it the third time, I realized I'd post it because I then got the message... It's really about challenging stereotypes and the fact that "Gay Pride" doesn't represent everyone.

I think we (GLBT people) tend to be a little too thin skinned, it's okay to poke fun at us just as we poke fun at other groups and their stereotypes. It's okay because it gets us talking about these issues. This is a lesson I learned when I was working in Canada where people routinely use racial and other epitaphs in their daily conversations. The difference is that in Canada, its not done with malicious intent, but rather as a way to communicate more openly and honestly. Political correctness, at least as we practice it here in the U.S. leaves a lot to be desired...

"Fear Eats the Soul"

H/T: Wicked Gay Blog

"A Story to Share..."

Occupation: Freelance game developer

A little known fact about me: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.

My Deciding Moment: My deciding moment coincided with the loss of my cousin. It wasn’t until he told me he was HIV positive that I realized how little I knew about HIV. I combed the internet for more information and answers to so many questions. I swore to keep myself up to date on HIV/AIDS transmission, preventative measures, and ways to cope with carrying the virus. If not for myself, then it would benefit someone close to me.

Why I believe it’s important to bring the issue of HIV to others’ attention: While there are physical implications of having HIV, there seems to be a lack of focus on the emotional issues that may arise. Not enough is done to help people actually cope with being HIV positive.

Why I chose to get involved: I lost two of my dear friends, as well as a cousin to AIDS. At times, I’ve seen them lose so much of what made them unique and powerful individuals due to the emotional issues stemming from being positive. If my involvement will do even a little to remind people that being positive isn’t a death sentence, it’s enough to put me at ease knowing that fewer people are falling victim to their own fears.

How I am Greater Than AIDS: Realizing that AIDS is just one small facet in our lives, which really isn’t big enough to hinder our progress as human beings.

"Fear Eats the Soul"