Episode 3: Revenge of the Gays, Are You One Too?

[Babaloo]

I'm kind of late on this thread (I usually stick to Disney discussion). I am a straight male, but I like to see that lots of you are sticking to what you believe! I am so happy to live in Canada, where it's accepted to marry whomever you want, and I'm happy to hear all of you aren't embarrassed of who you are! Nothing wrong with being gay, but I like when I see people being proud of who they are. This sounds corny....

And I am very sorry to hear some of these hate stories. People should understand we're not in the 40's anymore, and people shouldn't be discriminated for their orientation, culture, etc. Hopefully one day that this will all be accepted. Again, I know this sounds corny...

And Siren, that convo made me laugh so much! I don't know why but when I read "big gay door" I just burst out laughing and woke up my brother.

[Disney Duster]

Aw, Guru, I'm so sorry that terrible awful thing happened to you! I am glad you came out of it well!

Babaloo thank you for coming in here to voice your support!

Hey, everyone, check it out:

Gay penguins make good dads

German zookeepers in Bremerhaven had a problem on their hands when penguin parents rejected one of their eggs. To solve it, they placed the egg in a nest shared by two male penguins. The pair is one of three same-sex couples that have tried to mate at the zoo. The males incubated the egg for 30 days and continued to care for the chick after it hatched. Homosexual behavior has been documented in many animal species. "Sex and coupling in our world don't always have something to do with reproduction," the zoo said

Woot! Here's the source, and a video: Gay Penguin Dads

[pap64]

That reminds me of the South Park episode in which Miss Garrison is so upset over Mr. Slave marrying Big Gay Al that he assigns Stan and Kyle to take care of an egg to prove that a same sex couple can't raise children, much less marry. But despite Garrison trying to foil their assignment Stan and Kyle deliver the egg safe and sound, proving that same sex families can raise children just fine.

The gay penguin dads prove that being the same sex doesn't mean that the children will be harmed. Taking care of a child takes maternal nurture, love and care. Just because you are the same sex it doesn't mean it will lack the love seen in heterosexual families.

[Margos]

Awww! Penguins are cute! I had heard of the gay penguins before, and I think it really does go to show that gender means nothing! I mean, I come from basically a single-parent household, and I tell you what, I'd rather have had another mom to love me and care for me than the obnoxious string of my mother's boyfriends and the stepdad I finally ended up with, who basically all just ignored me.

[Siren]

I also remember the story of gay flamingos caring for a baby. If I remember correctly, they kept stealing eggs and chicks from heterosexual flamingos But they were good dads and the baby they ended up raising turned out fine.

Also, dolphins and bonobo (pygmy) chimpanzees both exhibit homosexual behavior. Though not for raising kids. With the chimps, sex in any form is a form of affection and keeps the social hierarchy in check. They are the chimps that make love, not war. They settle nearly all their spats with sex, often homosexually. And unlike the other species of chimps, bonobos are a female dominated society. Dolphins, its more often seen in the males, and homosexual sex is more a release for them. Dolphins have high sex drives and can be very aggressive. Young males will have consensual sex with eachother, but they are sometimes known to force females to have sex. Dolphins ain't all that sweet like Flipper would make ya think


I do find that the higher intelligent animals use sex more often as a social tool rather than solely for reproduction. But with the homosexual birds, they get together and actively raise a baby together.

IMO, its Mother Nature's way of ensuring species survival. The amount of males to females isn't always 50/50. There are bound to be some left without mates. So they pair up, and their urge to raise young is so strong, they are willing to steal from other parents....but if they can successfully steal a baby/egg, they have likely saved that baby/eggs life. If one bird can steal from another bird...then a predator could just have easily stolen it as well and killed it. If the parents fail to protect the offspring, they lost their chance that season. Where as the homosexual birds are stealing, to raise the baby and get so good at it, they end up being BETTER parents than the baby's natural parents.

In other words...homosexual is natural

[Goliath]

Same-sex marriage law backed in Portugal's parliament

Portugal's parliament has passed a law to legalise same-sex marriage, but rejected proposals to allow homosexual couples to adopt.

The bill was approved with the support of the governing Socialist Party and other parties further to the left.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates opened the debate with an appeal to back the law, saying it would put right an injustice that had caused unnecessary pain.

The law has been fiercely opposed by conservatives in the Catholic country.

Rightist parties had sought a national referendum on the issue following a petition that collected more than 90,000 signatures, but their proposal was rejected.

Friday's debate was at times heated, says the BBC's Alison Roberts in Lisbon, with Socialists attacking as discriminatory a counter-proposal from the centre-right Social Democrats for a new so-called civil union for same-sex couples.

The bill will now be reviewed in committee before coming back for a final vote in parliament.

If the law is ratified by President Anibal Cavaco Silva, it could come into effect in April - just a month before a visit to Portugal by Pope Benedict XVI, a staunch opponent of gay marriage.

The ratification would make Portugal the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages after Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway.

Many other countries have introduced civil partnerships, which give lesbian and gay couples some of the rights of married heterosexuals.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8448640.stm

[Siren]

An amusing story from work today....

I work at a magazine fulfillment house. We handle something like 1000 magazines/products/etc, taking calls, making subscriptions, crap like that. One of the guys in my aisle is openly gay. And for lack of a better term, he talks like a feminine gay man.

He took a call today from National Review, a Republican publication. The man tells him, "You don't sound like a conservative republican"...Sorry but...what an a******. My co-worker told him he just works in the subscription department. I told him he should have told him National Review is an equal opportunity employer.

Though we get similar calls for other magazines. A few people have actually complained "white girls" keep answering the phones for Ebony and Jet and they want to speak to a fellow African American because they will understand them.

People never cease to amaze me.

[Margos]

Jeez! Why are people so stupid? Do they honestly think that you guys work for the magazine publisher or something?
And the whole "You don't sound like a conservative Republican" comment is annoying, and ignorant.

[Siren]

Jeez! Why are people so stupid? Do they honestly think that you guys work for the magazine publisher or something?
And the whole "You don't sound like a conservative Republican" comment is annoying, and ignorant.

Well, technically, we have to say we are with the publisher. We can't tell them we do a 1000 other magazines. Subscribers want to feel we are experts in what they are calling about.
However, even if we ONLY handled National Review, by law, the business cannot discriminate. So whether National Review likes it or not, we got gay people working there And granted, we take calls for everything from Vegetarian Times to Deer and Deer Hunting. National Catholic Register to Penthouse. Kids Discover to Maxim. Its thoughts like that, that amuse me at times. I had an elderly woman once tell me, I should find another job, she got a Maxim order from a 3rd party agency and was terribly offended, she said I was "too nice a girl to be working for such a dirty company". Inside I was laughing hysterically thinking, "Watch my next call will be for Penthouse or Playgirl"

[Margos]

That's gotta be a pretty fun job at times, Siren! Always keeps you on your toes!

[Lazario]

An amusing story from work today....

I work at a magazine fulfillment house. We handle something like 1000 magazines/products/etc, taking calls, making subscriptions, crap like that. One of the guys in my aisle is openly gay. And for lack of a better term, he talks like a feminine gay man.

He took a call today from National Review, a Republican publication. The man tells him, "You don't sound like a conservative republican"...Sorry but...what an a******. My co-worker told him he just works in the subscription department. I told him he should have told him National Review is an equal opportunity employer.

Though we get similar calls for other magazines. A few people have actually complained "white girls" keep answering the phones for Ebony and Jet and they want to speak to a fellow African American because they will understand them.

People never cease to amaze me.

Actually, that should be quite amusing but I can't say I'm surprised. They probably thought it was a joke, I'm sure every political outlet with a phone number gets their share of crank calls. Hell, someone official called me before the election last year (last year and... 3 months, ago) asking me: was I "a McCain supporter?" I wish I could remember what I told him, but it was more than just, "no." If I had a voice that was very stereotypically gay, he wouldn't have asked me that question (he said something about "Good morning," so I had to exchange pleasentries first). You'd be surprised at how narrow-minded Republican sorta "P.R." people are. In their mind, they're just saving time.

Oh, and, Siren - what were they basically turning him down for? Calling other people for subscriptions?

[Siren]

An amusing story from work today....

I work at a magazine fulfillment house. We handle something like 1000 magazines/products/etc, taking calls, making subscriptions, crap like that. One of the guys in my aisle is openly gay. And for lack of a better term, he talks like a feminine gay man.

He took a call today from National Review, a Republican publication. The man tells him, "You don't sound like a conservative republican"...Sorry but...what an a******. My co-worker told him he just works in the subscription department. I told him he should have told him National Review is an equal opportunity employer.

Though we get similar calls for other magazines. A few people have actually complained "white girls" keep answering the phones for Ebony and Jet and they want to speak to a fellow African American because they will understand them.

People never cease to amaze me.

Actually, that should be quite amusing but I can't say I'm surprised. They probably thought it was a joke, I'm sure every political outlet with a phone number gets their share of crank calls. Hell, someone official called me before the election last year (last year and... 3 months, ago) asking me: was I "a McCain supporter?" I wish I could remember what I told him, but it was more than just, "no." If I had a voice that was very stereotypically gay, he wouldn't have asked me that question (he said something about "Good morning," so I had to exchange pleasentries first). You'd be surprised at how narrow-minded Republican sorta "P.R." people are. In their mind, they're just saving time.

Oh, and, Siren - what were they basically turning him down for? Calling other people for subscriptions?

We aren't telemarketers. We don't call anyone (unless we have a specific reason such as a call back about a missed issue, in which case, the customer is TOLD when we will call back). The man had a subscription to National Review and was calling us to renew it. So it wasn't a prank call. The guy was just that much of a douchebag.

People ask us personal questions all the time. Or make statements to us that are in all instances, rude and uncalled for. I've been called stupid, an idiot, that I should go work at McDonalds, etc. I've also been asked if I know Jesus, have found God, would like to know more about Jehovah Witnesses, if I am wearing pantyhose, what sexual position I like, if I am one of the models, who I voted for in the election, etc.
People often assume, if I am taking calls, I have some major in with the magazine and can transfer for them right to the CEO.

Granted, we do get prank calls, but in my time there, nothing hateful or violent. Most prank calls are kids calling WWE magazines to ask to talk to John Cena or guys who keep calling till they hear a woman's voice so they can jack off. When I worked till 9PM, I use to get a lot more prank calls. Most of them were funny, a few slightly frustrating (because you just can't hang up on someone because you think its a prank), and just a couple were actually disturbing. But most, I do find amusing.
We all are required to keep an bomb thread paper with us. It is a quick reference to find out and get information on the caller if someone ever calls in a bomb threat. They have never had one, but after 9/11 and the anthrax deaths, its required for us. After the anthrax deaths, they put the mail room in one trailer far from the rest of the buildings, so only those 10 employees would be exposed to anthrax if it happened.

[Disney's Divinity]

If you didn't see the State of the Union address, Obama's officially calling for a repeal to "Don't ask, don't tell." It's hard to believe it's still around anyway.

[Margos]

If you didn't see the State of the Union address, Obama's officially calling for a repeal to "Don't ask, don't tell." It's hard to believe it's still around anyway.

Thank goodness for Obama! (sure, it's more or less pointing out the obvious that that thing seriously needs to go.... but hey, at least he said it)

[SpringHeelJack]

I'll clap when it's done. It was a campaign promise he has yet to make good on, really.

[ajmrowland]

^I'd say more a promise the entire Congress has yet to make good on.

[SpringHeelJack]

But all of Congress didn't run on that promise. As Obama did, if he really wanted to show change, he could issue an executive order basically daring the next president or Congress to have the cojones to repeal it. Talk about your change.

If the Democrats lose their majority next election, it's going to be much less likely that waiting for the legislative branch to do something will work.

Here, this website basically outlines how it could work...

A clear and comprehensive road map for repealing DADT and implementing an alterna- tive, non-discriminatory policy already exists. This report provides a realistic outline for repealing DADT and opening our armed forces to the many qualified men and women who have been excluded under that law. These steps include:

1. Signing an Executive Order banning further military separations based on DADT and sending a legislative proposal on DADT repeal to Congress

2. Forming a presidential panel on how to implement the repeal

3. Repealing DADT in Congress and changing the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMS

4. Changing other necessary military guidelines to conform to the new policy

5. Following-up to ensure that the armed forces implement the policy changes

[Disney's Divinity]

I'll clap when it's done. It was a campaign promise he has yet to make good on, really.

Yeah, I know he's said it before and has yet to get around to it, but that's really the first time I've heard him say it in a speech most people will hear. Besides, he's been focused mostly on healthcare and businesses since he got in office. Doesn't mean he won't eventually get around to the other things he's said. Hopefully.

[Goliath]

I've watched the entire State of the Union. I never watch complete speeches of the Dutch prime-minister of the queen, but I just had to watch president Obama. But then again, Obama can give a speech, and the prime-minister and queen... Well, they have the charisma of a bag of potatoes.

I'll hope Obama makes good on this campaign promise about DADT (and repeals DOMA). But then again, he has continued so many Bush policies under the radar that I've grown very sceptical of him.

[KennethE]

Honestly, it took me 19 or 20 years to finally accept that I was gay. In hindsight, it was so clearly obvious, but due to religious beliefs and attitudes towards homosexuality that had been pounded in my head by family members, my school (private school attendee), my community, etc. all my life, I was pretty much in denial and such. Not to mention basic naivety - hell, I didn't know it WASN'T normal for little boys to be able to act out every line from The Little Mermaid until I was much older.

Hey man, I'm so sorry to hear how you had to go through all that stuff in your past. But you have NOTHING to be ashamed of, especially when it comes to The Little Mermaid. I actually use to quote every line from the film too (even though I'm not gay.) I'm STILL quoting from it down to this day! If anyone gives me grief over it I just tell 'em. "Hey, Little Mermaid was a GREAT film with a GREAT screenplay, and GREAT music!" Too many people think too much in terms of black and white. You're "normal" or you're gay. It's a boy movie or a girl movie.

...Now some guys I know who lovingly quote Transformers 2 --- now THAT'S a joke!