Michele do you think we're stupid?

OK I’ll admit it.  I haven’t been paying much attention to the political race taking shape.  I don’t like Obama but I don’t think the Republican Party is putting up anyone who can beat him.

I will also admit that I am a registered Republican, though I rarely vote the party line. I am a conservative.  I own a small business and am for small government.  I am pro choice even though I chose life.  I am for gay marriage and equality.  I am a Christian and I am for freedom of religion.  In other words, I don’t fit with either party!

Now I also have to admit that Michele Bachman lost my vote as soon as I found out what her husband does for a living.  Anyone who thinks that someone can be counseled straight is clueless! Besides raising a son, who happens to be gay, I have many friends who are out and proud as well.  One of them admitted to me that he gladly would have “chosen” to be straight.  “It would have been easier,” he said.  In fact we dated for a time and I could easily classify him as one of my “first loves.”  Obviously I didn’t have a clue and it was during a time when he was “trying” to be what people “wanted” him to be.  He also admitted to me that he knew at the age of 5!! 

So I have a question, does Michele Bachman think we’re all stupid?  In a recent interview with a young woman in Iowa she was questioned about her stance on gay marriage.   Mrs. Bachman gladly responded that all people have the same right to marry, gay or straight.  She went on to state that a man can marry a woman and a woman can marry a man.  Huh?  Does she really think that is an answer?  How dumb does she think we are?

Unfortunately Mrs. Bachman isn’t the only idiot running for political office (or in political office if the truth be told!).  I’m beginning to think we need a third party.  One with a brain! 

Let’s get this straight, sexuality is not a choice.  It is not a decision.  It is not a “life style.”  This is how you were born.  It is in your DNA.  It is how God made you!

Birth of a Baby

It's amazing to me how stressful the holidays are.  Heck, just the word family is enough to create hives!  We're so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle.  Surviving the mall.  Finding the perfect gift.  Not breaking the bank.  The parties, the presents, the parking lots!

Somewhere we've totally lost the meaning of the season!  Think about it.  We've gone 180 degrees from the first Christmas.  No fanfare, no parties, no real plan even!  Just a baby born in a stable.  Yet it was the perfect present! 

No strings attached, no guilt, just the ultimate gift!

Change

What's so scary about change?

Change means new.  It means different.  It means exciting!  It means challenge!  It means adventure!

But change also means stress!  It means leaving our comfort zones and being open to something new.

Mark Twain once said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did."

Take a chance!  Try something new.  Walk across the street and see what you've been missing.  There could be a whole new world just waiting to be discovered!

Aren't we all different?

I got an email this morning from a young man who read my blog and took the time to write me.  I was blown away!  When you start to right a blog the first thought is, "Is anyone going to read this?"  The second realization is that you are putting yourself out there to be judged, heart and soul, for all the world to see.  But really, isn't that what we do every day?

Every day we get up and go out in the world.  We interact with people of all different beliefs, religions, political views, sexual orientations.  People of every race, creed and color.  We put ourselves out there to be judged by whoever may or may not agree with us. 

It takes guts to walk out the door every morning.  Heck, some mornings it takes guts just to get out of bed!  I am a white, Christian, conservative, straight woman and some days I don't want to be me.  I want to put myself in a closet and not deal with people or prejudice or preconceived notions. 

How much harder must it be for anyone who is different.  And do they look different or act different or just think different.  Are they different on the outside or on the inside?

But really aren't we ALL different?  Didn't God make each and everyone one of us an individual?  We aren't clones and we aren't sheep and who would want to be?  The world would be a boring place indeed if we all looked the same, spoke the same and acted the same! Everyone of us is special in his or her own way. 

Thank you Manolo for taking the time to write to me.  You've given me the courage to be different and to keep writing about it!

Why not marriage?

In June of last year my Daughter and my Son-In-Law got married.  It was a beautiful, traditional wedding with all the romance, stress and planning of a grand affair.  It was held at their church (our church) with the reception at the all ranks club on base.  My Hhusband wore his dress uniform to walk our Daughter down the isle and I was escorted down the isle by our Son, our gay Son. 

It was a beautiful day but it made me think...
Why shouldn't my Son and his partner not have the same chance?  To stand before God, family and friends and share their love and commitment to each other? 

I grew up in a small church in So. California.  Arcadia Friends Church was a close net group of friends and believers.  It's traditional evangelical views shaped my theological views on God, marriage and family.  But now, years later I question everything I ever learned.  I've stopped going to our local church.  Not that I don't love the people and the music, not that I don't want to worship but because I don't want to be anywhere my Son is not welcome. 

One of my dearest friends gave me years of his research on homosexualityand the Bible.  I have read and read and prayed and read some more.  How is it possible that the God I love could not love my son?  If you look in the links below this post you'll see a link to Canyonwalker.  Kathy is a dear friend and a straight advocate of the GLBT community.  She is a firm believer, as I am that, that God has nothing against the gay community.  How could He, He created them just as they are!

I remember sharing one of Kathy's posts with  my Son.  After he read the post and viewed the videos on Kathy's site he turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, "Do you mean I'm not going to hell because of who I love?".  Yes, this Mother cried!  How could my Son ever think he was going to hell because of love? 

This is the message that so many in the GLBT community are receiving.  Your not good enough. Your not lovable. Your not acceptable.  Your not (insert word here).  Why?  Because of who you love.

You can not change who you love and you can't change what you are.  And more importantly you shouldn't try!

I'm Out!

I'm out!  As a blogger that is!  Last night I even came out to my kids.  They were all extremely supportive and excited, which really shouldn't have surprised me.

Two years ago my son came out and rocked my world.  Typical I was the last to know, I hadn't a clue!  Of course after I starting putting the pieces of the puzzle together.  It made so much more sense!  Duh!  Of course he was gay!

The purpose for this blog is really to show my support and love for not only my son and his partner but all the sons and daughters out there.  So many of you are lacking the love and support of your parents and family, which in my mind is a crime!