tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post268966417537289395..comments2024-03-05T23:31:44.106-08:00Comments on Gay Family Values: Is The World Changing?GFVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02950236433262366445noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post-84122430032814076492010-03-26T07:31:37.033-07:002010-03-26T07:31:37.033-07:00Hi, Bryan and bloggers, this strikes very close to...Hi, Bryan and bloggers, this strikes very close to home. I live in southern California, well within an hour's drive of Los Angeles. I grew up in a very conservative "born-again" Christian family. I never "came out" because I feared my life would be threatened. I'm now in my late 40s and the youngest of 3 siblings. I tried building a network of gay friends but I found great intolerance and judgement from the gay community for not being out. So I lived my life pretty much a recluse in private life, the "apple" of my parents' eyes. <br />My sister recently told my brother and father that she suspected I am gay. My brother sought me out, assaulted me, and attempted to murder me. He was arrested and sentenced with a reduced plea bargain, given a light probation and a court order to stay away from me. The court said it was his first offense and it wasn't serious until he attempts again or succeeds at murdering me. He has sworn to fulfill his threats. My father applauded him and is encouraging him to return and "finish the job." Their southern Baptist minister supports them in this. My father and "Assembly of God" Christian brother believe they are doing God's work by ridding the world of me. <br />In short, I am in hiding and live every moment glancing over my shoulder. This situation cost me my home, my career, and my sense of safety. I have been reduced to sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor of a rented room in someone else's home. I am thankful for a core group of people who know me and love me and are trying to help me through. <br />I join those who have commented here in being terribly grieved for Mahmoud and Ayaz. During this fight for basic human rights there surely will be many many more names added to the list of hate crime casualties: some of them here in the US. Every video and blog entry you and Jay post throws a lifeline and a glimmer of hope to those of us out here who live in the shadows literally fearing for our lives. Thank you for bringing hope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post-25480512294842982562010-03-14T09:52:11.123-07:002010-03-14T09:52:11.123-07:00Bryan, excellent writing as always. You are expan...Bryan, excellent writing as always. You are expanding beyond the LGBT element of inequality to show people that there are many ways in which we forget our humanity, and mistreat each other. It is important to exercise our right to speech on behalf on those who cannot. <br /><br />Even though I know how, I don't know why torture continues. We as people are very vulnerable, and we are lucky to live in a country where we don't have to think about it--we can talk about it.<br /><br />My thoughts are with the Middle East daily, because I have studied what happens there at length, and it is deplorable. We can see thousands, millions of deaths online, executions and murders. It's too much to expose ourselves to, lest we become ill. When you feel sympathy, Do what you can, feel what you must, but try not to let it get the best of you, or you won't be able to help anyone. <3<br /><br />Love you guys. You're so aware of others, and your compassion is exemplary.<br />-SamaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post-8818987618907901112010-03-11T18:12:06.790-08:002010-03-11T18:12:06.790-08:00Hey Bryan,
Last year I met a young gay man from KS...Hey Bryan,<br />Last year I met a young gay man from KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) online. I first contacted him since I was surprised to find a guy from that country who was openly gay (at least in the website). We started to exchange messages and then emails, and we have now become online friends. He has told me how horrible it is to be gay in that country, all he has been through, and how he basically has to live a lie so that this kind of thing doesn't happen to him.<br /><br />Right now he is actually studying in the U.S, but will have to return to KSA once he is finished. He has told me how happy he is, what a change it has been for him, and all the new people he is meeting. However, one day we had a chat and he was really depressed because he started to think what would happen to him once he returns to his country. He feels he cannot continue with the lie, but he knows that if he tries to live a gay life he will not only bring disgrace to his family but he is certain he will be killed. He is in his early 20's and he is already haunted by the thought of such a horrible death!<br /><br />This blog entry really hit home for me. That same helplessness you felt when reading about this and writing was what I was feeling when I had that chat with him. I could only send him my words through a message program. I couldn't offer my shoulder or my arms for a hug. Experiences like this only makes us more committed to keep fighting for LGBT rights. You guys are doing a great job with this blog and the youtube channel.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Sensoriushttp://www.youtube.com/user/sensoriussupremusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post-80002120370766304342010-03-11T18:01:42.660-08:002010-03-11T18:01:42.660-08:00Be pacient Bryan. It's like you said, we have ...Be pacient Bryan. It's like you said, we have to bear witness to this, in order to learn and to help others learn of the caliber this issue holds not only for ourselves, but for the world as a whole. We're fighting our battle here, and the US, although slow, is changing it's tune to the LGBT community. All we can do is be a safe home for ourselves and our families, a safe home for others and a prime example of what can be accomplished when time is taken to understand ourselves and others. It's going to time for everyone to learn. Baby steps.<br /><br />"The philosophies of one age have become the absurdities of the next, and the foolishness of yesterday has become the wisdom of tomorrow."<br />-Sir William Osler<br /><br />Take care Bryan<br /><br />sincerely,<br /><br />Jason<br />Davis, CAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post-38443496717581154072010-03-11T16:19:20.050-08:002010-03-11T16:19:20.050-08:00Mahmoud and Ayaz have become the face for LGBT opp...Mahmoud and Ayaz have become the face for LGBT oppression in the middle east...I think the Pet Shop Boys even dedicated an album to them. If I ever meet the president of Iran, I'll hit his face with a baseball bat in the name of these two.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587902609826926070.post-43641129087623442322010-03-11T12:36:34.545-08:002010-03-11T12:36:34.545-08:00The two Iranians were named Mahmoud Asgari and Aya...The two Iranians were named Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni.<br /><br />I remember when this happened and even some conservative Americans were outraged at the actions taken by the Iranian government. Granted, they may have been more outraged by the fact that these were boys, not grown men, but the fact is I do believe our country has hope for a future of acceptance. Sadly, it may take a long while for the rest of the world to jump on board.<br /><br />But anyway, hopefully putting names to these two boys' faces can at least allow them some dignity. The world needs to know and understand that we are not monsters; we are not abominations; we are people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com