Being Human

As every year, I proudly joined the Stand 4 Love initiative, which stands for equal civil rights when it comes to marriage, not only in the US but world wide; marriage is after all one of the things we strive to accomplish as human beings, to be there for our spouse, to take their names, look after them and start families, something that is negated to us by simple concept and that most European countries are slowly adopting, seeing how it is a necessary step for our society.

So as every year, I took my pic, wrote something short and nice about my point of view in the topic and shared it on all social platforms I could possibly think of. As I was reading reactions, shares and comments -yes, I do take the time to read those-, my youngest son directed my attention to something that was being shared and "liked" as well and on a very delicate current topic we both feel very strongly about for a number of reasons, and that is the US government's passing of a new law that would instantly grant citizenship to a large number of people that live in conditions that are close to slavery.

After being insulted for speaking my mind on the topic and how ironic I found it for someone trying to get equal citizen rights on something as basic as marriage, but wishing to deny a large number of the population of a country basically built by immigrants, just because they didn't happen to be born at the right place, it was pointed out that immigration was a law and if it had been broken people needed to be punished and processed for it and that the right to access a citizen status was in now way form or fashion a human right or in violation of it.

I then proceeded to do a bit of research and here they are, as it stands today: Right to life, Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. Freedom from torture, It is considered to be a violation of human rights, and is declared to be unacceptable by Article 5. Freedom from slavery, Freedom from slavery is an internationally recognized human right. Article 4 (many immigrants, while trying to get a chance on a citizenship, do work on some form or fashion next to slavery, where their bosses take advantage of cheap labor and where most of the time, acquiring debt for basic things as housing or health care makes it next to impossible for these people to escape these forms of modern slavery) Right to a fair trial, Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal (immigrants seldom do by the way) Freedom of movement, the fundamental right to travel, move and relocate wherever (yes, indeed IT IS a human right and deportation and incarceration for not holding a citizenship is in fact in direct violation of this)

The list goes on, but these ones about cover the topic at hand. We can't be nit-picky about what freedoms we choose to support and which don't, specially when immigrants are human beings like you and me and pretty much like you are demanding the freedom to marry the person you love, they are simply asking to live without fear of prosecution, just for existing. About half a decade ago, the Spanish government passed a law very similar to the one being proposed here, and surprise, the world didn't end and yes, thousands of "third class citizens" were legalized.

Check out this video while thinking about all of this: You Don't Have To Wear A Fedora, But You DO Have To Be A Decent Human Being, after all our strength lies in our diversity.

I not only stand 4 love, but for equality for us all

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

Gay money

With all of this debate about marriage equality in the US, something that has been in fact a reality in Europe for well over a decade in most places, one cannot help but ask, Why is that country taking so long? Isn't there -or at least should be- a clear separation from conservative/religious parties and the government?

Around 8 years ago, marriage equality was voted, passed and approved by a vast majority in Spain, and when the new -conservative party- took over, many feared of what would happen to something that was regarded as a social progress; and yes, the bill got appealed, got taken to the high court and after a while of deliberation, they came to the conclusion we all expected, marriage is a human right, a right that should be given to all citizens.

If the american government -as a whole and those against marriage equality- continues to negate a good number of their citizens one of their fundamental rights, regardless of their sexual orientation, then a new bill should be passed where gay citizens should be exempt from a certain percentage of taxes, as we are not regarded as equals, why then should we be considered equals when it's about our money?

Gay money seems to be as green and as valid as regular money, and what's best, no one can tell the difference between them, not even those who still claim homosexuality is wrong and perverse -which is the center of the whole example-; governments, companies, individuals, churches, they all accept the same currency, regardless of its origin.

If we are not regarded as equals and given our fundamental citizens rights, then it's time to ask to turn things around and make a clear distinction between the "types" of citizens a country has, if rights are taken away from us, so should our taxes.

Just my two cents

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

Controversy

Society as we know it, facing yet another "end of the world", has become a little too self aware of other people's feelings on a number of various and diverse matters that we think will hurt people's sensibilities, Second Life is no exception and the bug of political correctness has invaded and spread widely in all areas of our virtual society.

We sensor ourselves and our children daily, we try not to step on anyone's toes but then we go and friend or de-friend people with incredible ease or do things that intentionally hurt other's while we try not to hurt how strangers feel about our on-look of life and how we express it.

I grew up in a society where children celebrated christimas and of you were not a christian or a pagan, you were more than free not to celebrate it, nod your head and smile if a merry christmas  was wished to you and carry on with your life; times were different then, black people were black, white people were white and there were little to any discussion on what the proper "term" was.

Truth be told, our society has leaped forward in many areas, there are countries such as Spain, The Netherlands and so on, were getting married, no matter your gender is a "CONSTITUTIONAL" right and not a luxury and neither Jesus, nor Buddha or Vishnu have come to smite anyone because it is wrong.

Yes, I do try and be inclusive when wishing people a Happy Holiday season, but this is mostly because Second life and my readers base is so varied, I do not want anyone to feel excluded, but you certainly should not get all worked up over anyone wishing you a Merry Christmas.

I have always tried, and do still not to appear judgmental and insensitive about people's lives and choices, but it is a personal daily struggle no to clearly express and voice my input on how I see things, and in many ways this is a way of self-censoring; I am what I am, I'm blunt, straightforward and I celebrate Christmas, call black people black, recycle only when I am in the mood and firmly believe that it is ok to be a christian, to go to church and be religious, but this never serves as an excuse to gratuitously hate a sector of society that only wishes to be allowed as citizens, to marry their spouses.

And this is not controversy, is just my way to see life, many others out there do cause a stir over less important things, but then again, what would our second lives be if we didn't have the attention seekers, drama queens?

Merry Christmas...

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

Stand 4 love

"Each one of us has the right to liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness. Everyone has the right to love and be loved in return. GAY, LESBIAN, STRAIGHT, TRANSGENDERED or BISEXUAL…..Sexual Orientation or Race shouldn’t Matter. The FREEDOM to LOVE is fundamental as the FREEDOM to BREATHE. Two adults should have the right to love without discrimination and intolerance. Marriage should be available to any loving couple. Let’s end hatred and discrimination now. Stand UP and be counted!!!"

This is the basic premise on which the Stand 4 love charity project stands on, speak up, advertise, promote and create world-wide awareness of one single fact, the equality rights the LGTB community has always and will continue on fighting for while promoting tolerance; we have never wished to be considered the same as our heterosexual counterparts, but there is something that as citizens we are indeed considered quite the same -except for the joint tax declaration married couples have- and that is paying taxes.

Our "gay" money is just as hard-earned and valid as anyone else's and most governments do have the separation between state and the clergy, but at the end of the day this separation fails to happen as there are many so called "religious" individuals in politics, who fail to see our "lifestyle" for what it really is, just another way -as valid as the next one- to express and feel love.

So let's stop assuming our kids will be straight, let's just settle for them being happy, whatever they turn out to be, let's all fight to create awareness that being gay is not a choice, hatred however is.

More info on how to join the Stand 4 Love movement on their page

http://stand4love.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

One Million Biggots

I am sitting here, looking at my screen trying to type the right words to get my idea across and I have to frankly admit I am, for the very first time in my life, beyond words. I truly don't know what got into these "one million moms" group, but if I must say so, their efforts have gone from being mildly amusing -seriously a group of not nearly 50 k trying to boycott Ellen DeGeneres and JC Penny, who have easily 10 times their numbers in supporters IS amusing- to point blank insulting.

Cancel Gay Superheroes immediately, says One million moms

So before I got my hands on writing this article, I decided to do some active and responsible research by reading up first on what they had to say and what points they had to make as "traditional" or to use a more appropriate term "conservative" families -as we all know that there is nothing traditional to families as a whole, they can be defined thankfully, in so many different ways-

So let's go over a few key points on what these people have to say -and don't try to look up their Facebook group, been there done that, it got obviously, removed-

A) "This is ridiculous! Why do adult gay men need comic superheroes as role models? They don't but do want to indoctrinate impressionable young minds by placing these gay characters on pedestals in a positive light" This is true, we don't need gay comic superheroes as role models, but comics are a reflection of society and culture and do so as a form of art; as for the indoctrinating part, if we had the need to do so -as to creating more homosexuals- we'd have Gay missionaries going door to door singing gay hymns and telling people on how marvelous it is to be gay and the wonders it does indeed to your life; on a second thought, aren't you CHRISTIANS, MORMONS and JEHOVA WITNESSES already doing that?


B) "As Christians, we know that homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27)" Since you are supporting your irrational hatred on a book, I'd advice you to carefully read up Leviticus' position on slavery, incest, among a huge number of other things I simply won't take the time to refute or list -do read up on Exodus as well, quite a few good things in there rewarding the heterosexual lifestyle which we already know can be, so colorful- and while you're doing that and basing your hatred on an "unflawed" book, do take the time to explain as well how is it that in one of the new testament books, there is only one angel announcing Jesus has risen while on the rest there's always two -and no I won't tell you which one, but it IS there-


Maybe, then maybe while taking the time on having some base on your irrational fear and hatred, you will learn to grow up already and let people live in peace -Canadians and Europeans have been doing this for quite a while now and no, the world hasn't ended and straight children are still straight and gay children are still gay-


Forty years from now, you will look back and be ashamed of yourselves for even trying to segregate love, once again. As a gay single parent, I will go to bed and wake up every morning with the clear conscience of having done right by my family and others around me, while doing this in love which is basically what Jesus preached.


https://www.facebook.com/spikecls 

The Single Hunk

Whether you are gay or straight, you most likely have been exposed to the variant of this very special breed of potential boyfriend at some point; he's drop dead gorgeous, knows exactly what to say, he's great in bed and becomes the instant best buddy of your close friends, he's just... perfect, but for some strange reason, he simply can't seem to be able to tie the knot, or seal the deal with anyone.

I was sitting here quietly pondering over my past month, and just realized that this guy I used to date briefly has been both engaged -and partnered- in a range shorter than two weeks to two different unsuspecting victims; this type of guy should come with a disclaimer of some sort, I mean they should at least announce it on their profile -"I am not marrying material guys! but I will play along for as long as I can"-

What makes these guys engage in this type of behavior that leaves all sorts of heartbreak collateral and drama on their wake? do they get off on the whole planning the wedding bit and then get cold feet at the very mention of "til death parts us"?, perhaps is the whole compromise part they simply cannot get a grasp of?

One went to the lengths once of trying to pin down on me the blame of us not working out -yes I do mean you dear-, while he was juggling several boyfriends -including his ex- as he made up his mind on where his pixelated self would settle.

My father always told me that being a man, and becoming one didn't involve growing hair in places where there wasn't any before, but justifying the presence of them  by acting like one.

So be careful of who you rush off to marry or partner in second life, you may be faced with this rare specimen without even knowing.

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

Love is a two-way street

It being RL or SL, whose line seems to fade at times for some couples the secret to a long lasting relationship is reciprocity, this being the act of giving and taking, the minute the giving becomes a one sided habit, it is then time to rethink your position on the whole thing.

Parenting, couples and all forms of partnerships in SL that require more than one person and involve feelings are a complex thing, because the feelings are there and most of the time are quite strong but SL relationships no matter the nature that started them are limited by the lack of physical proximity, a touch, his smell, a number of things real couples take for granted but those SL based do not enjoy and have to find work-arounds on.

I have always noticed how people rush into getting married in SL as if it was the most normal thing in the world, and sometimes this marriage vow and ceremony don't seem to be taken as seriously as they should, avatars or not, there are people behind them and these people have feelings.

I've always stood by the belief that vows are to be taken seriously and that "for better or for worse" really does mean that, that is until your own personal or mental well being is at stake, that is when you have to take a few steps back and let things unfold and take the path life will lead them to.

As far as Second Life is concerned, do keep a few things in mind when dealing with the platform: keep it real, keep it fun and keep it simple, real life is complicated enough as it is.

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

Will & Grace: the other "GAY marriage"

Of all the possible relationship combinations that exist in life, one that was recently popularized by a TV show and which happens more often than people would imagine is the somewhat dysfunctional Will & Grace relationship combo.

He's gay, cute, successful & single and so is she, they have been friends forever and even move in together at some point; they are for all intends and purposes a couple.
Are faghag / gay unions factual and possible in the long run? Does this bond fade when one of them finds happiness on a meaningful relationship that includes sex? It should not be the case if Love is true & the friendship strong -i.e. One is not using the other to compensate for having a crappy love life, until mr. Right comes along-

One of the things I've learned in life and which makes me frown when sectors strongly opposse gay unions is that happiness, families and bonds are like balloons... Come in all shapes and sizes but the final use is still the same

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls