Topic: Society
A Monument to Homosexual Victims Of Holocaust Will Be Erected In Tel-AvivMay 11, 2008 |
The agreement on creation and erection of the monument was signed by representatives of Tel-Aviv municipality and the leader of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) movement Itai Pinkas. This was announced on The Day Of Remembrance For Victims of Holocaust, that takes place in Israel yearly. Six million Jewish became victims of Nazists.
According to Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel-Aviv, the movement presents a metallic triangle with names of the victims engraved on it.
Homosexuals in concentration camps had to wear pink triangles on their clothes. Pink triangles served a kind of "identification sign" for fascists, like yellow hexagrams were a sign of being a Jewish. Since that time pink triangle is the international symbol of LGBT movement.
According to the mayor the monument will become the first Israel's memorial to homosexual victims of fascism.
Monuments to gay and lesbian victims of fascists have already been erected in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, San Francisco, Australian Sidney. Temporary monument to gays and lesbians who became victims of fascists has been fixed up in Berlin. The monument is in development stage.
American Holocaust museum in Washington has also dedicated an exhibition to gays and lesbians who were slaughtered by fascists.
In accordance with German criminal code that prohibited sexual relationships between persons of the same sex, thousands of gays and lesbians were arrested and sent to concentration camps where they perished from hard labor in exile or were burned in crematoriums.
Representatives of Orthodox Judaism did not approve the idea of creating a memorial and claimed that this will be an insult to the memory to millions of Nazism's victims.
About a month ago Joseph Devine, a catholic episcope from Scotland accused gays and lesbians of using Holocaust for their interests.
Chelsea Clinton Partying at Gay BarsApr 21, 2008 |
Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of the ex president of the USA now is taking part in election campaign of her mother, sometimes in quite a peculiar way. For instance, she has recently visited several gay bars in Philadelphia, the capital of the state of Pennsylvania
Democrat Ed Rendell, the governor of Pensilvania is a great supporter of Hillary Clinton. He always takes part in at least four the most significant events in the election campaign. This time he invited Chelsea Clinton to accompany him in Pennsylvania in the framework of election campaign of the ex-president's wife.
Together with the governor Chelsea went to Philadelphian gay-bars where she combined business and pleasure: the ex-president's (and, probably, the future president's) daughter enjoyed great public attention and advised the bar's visitors to vote Hillary Clinton.
"You are nice, baby! - cried out gays in "Tavern'' - We like your hairdo!''
"Thank you so much, - said Chelsea, - but you should vote my mother for quite another reason".
After Chelsea left Tavern she was surrounded by gays and lesbians to whom she told what changes in social politics her mother is going to make.
After Tavern Chelsea went to Woodies, another gay bar where she delivered a speech. The visitors stopped dancing and listened to Chelsea carefully. Even go-go dancers with shining trunks on listened to the daughter of presidential candidate with great attention.
"I am very glad I am here" - said Chelsea. With some of them she shook hands and thanked all Hillari's supporters, according to Washington Post.
Gay parentingApr 14, 2008 |
Researches estimated that today nearly one million gays are parents, and about 6 million children grow up in gay families. Some gays choose an adoption, others use alternative reproduction to have a child, some gays have children from their previous heterosexual marriages. If you decided to become a parent, you should know about some difficulties that are likely to appear:
Disapproval from others
People are still not quite comfortable with the idea of gay parenting. Beginning with the issues, concerning reasons why you decided to be a parent, ending with the open confrontation with those, who may say that you have "immoral" way of life and you shouldn't be accepted to raise children. That's not your fault and you have the same wishes and feelings, which urge you to raise children and have a family.
Lack of legal base for gay parenting
Although struggle for social recognition is gradually giving its results, gay parenting remains difficult with many obstacles, including from social institutions: adoption agencies, schools, medical centers and many others.
Gay parents need to have a wide range of legal documents in order to prove their right to be a parent over and over again. In situation when one of the partners has taken legal responsibility for their child, the other may be helpless to make important decisions regarding parenting. Such issues as child's custody after the death of one of the partners, which are automatically settled in heterosexual couples, can become more problematic for gay partners.
Social difficulties for children
Gay parents need to deal with society, where prejudices and prepossession are stronger when it comes to sex orientation. Same-sex couples should be prepared to protect and support their children in overcoming certain difficulties, which may occur in their relationships with peers. Other children may abuse gay couple's child with malicious jokes and insulting names. It is important to know that social recognition is a thing all children get through. But those who are supported by their parents are more confident in coping with such difficulties.
Questionable Gay parenting abilities.
In spite of the fact that there is no evidence that proves that gays are not apt for bringing-up children, other people may continue to search for evidence and fight with gay parenting. Gay parents, just like other couples are not more or less capable of performing their parental duties. Your children have every chance to be as happy, self-confident and socially accepted as any other children.
In most psychological studies one of the primary issues in respect to gay parenting is a problem of gender role development. As it is believed that a child should have a mother and a father sex roles to develop his or her gender identity. In fact, children derive male or female roles from many other models: relatives, friends or neighbors. Your friends and family may also greatly contribute to adequate development of your child.
In spite of all these difficulties gay parents are eager to bring up their children and give them all their warmth and support. They strive for the same right to have a life, not a life-long struggle with people around. Try to weigh all the pros and contras of gay parenting to have a family you really dream about.
Public Gay Sex To Be Allowed In NetherlandsApr 03, 2008 |
Paul van Grieken, an Alderman in one of the districts of Amsterdam, shocked the citizens of the city , though these are known for their liberal attitudes when he proposed to legalize public sex (including gay and lesbian sex) in one of the most popular parks of the country.
Vondelpark is a very beautiful and very popular park in Amsterdam. Citizens of the city and tourists like walking there in summer. Rosary of this park has become the place where gays meet to find a partner for sex.
Why should we prohibit things that cannot be prohibited? - said van Grieken - Why should we prohibit public sex? Yes, it might shock some passers by, but it gives so much pleasure to those who practice it!
Van Grieken emphasizes that the main goal of such liberality is to protect gays from violence.
Now new instructions for policemen are being developed. According to the new law couples won't be fined for making love in public, provided they respect some rules. These rules imply the following: sex is allowed only in night time, sex is prohibited near children's playgrounds, couples must remove all the condoms that were used for the encounter. Those who don't respect these rules will be fined or punished in some other way.
The new law is disliked only by dog owners who walk with their pets in the park. According to the new law walking with a dog without lead is banned and fined. Dog owners say they do not understand why those who have sex won't be fined, while owners of dogs will have to pay if they want to give to their pets some freedom.
"They are allowed to be naked in public, why cannot my dog walk without a lead?" - say they.
To have or not to have sex in public now is a matter of personal choice in Netherlands. Feel free and do what you want. Good boys go to hell, bad boys go to Amsterdam!
Gay Couples - a Good Example to Straight CouplesJan 23, 2008 |
The latest study showed that many straight couples may actually learn from lesbian and gay couples.
Robert-Jay Green, a US psychologist and researcher of the Rockway Institute and of Alliant International University in San Diego said that the study of lesbian and gay couples showed that homosexual couples were more flexible in regard to their parental and household tasks and their division.
The equality in gay and lesbian couples helped many of them in avoiding conflicts over traditional gender roles division, which often leads to arguments and dissatisfaction in heterosexual couples.
Researchers also say that lesbian and gay couples often show more caring approach towards their children and each other.
Besides, the scientists also claim that lesbian couples were emotionally closer than gay couples and gay couples were closer in comparison to straight couples.
Is it so surprising to us? Many gays and lesbian live feeling different from others and they learn to be flexible and more loyal due to this fact. They understand that a key to healthier relationships lies in understanding and more respect towards each other.
The greater emotional closeness can also be explained by the fact that gays and lesbian are more attached towards each other and also try to stay together to deal with the obstacles and other people's prejudices and attitude.
This is a true example, that gay couples deserve to have their own family and live their way in healthy relation.
Homosexuality prohibited in schoolsMar 28, 2007 |
Students from Montgomery County are pressed on finding excuses to miss recently introduced sex-educational classes that provide information on sexual orientation and condom use.
The test lessons on homosexuality were taught at several high schools (Watkins Mill, Bethesda-Chevy Chase high schools) and middle schools (at Argyle and Julius West, Sherwood High School, Westland Middle School middle schools).
More than 10 percent of pupils from 10th- grade and 8th-grade handed in parental-permission slip and others couldn't attend classes as they had no permission slip. Brian Edwards, county schools spokesman, claimed that students had a possibility to attend alternative lessons.
But some of Citizens group members insist on cancellation of sex-ed lessons and call parents to nix their children learn "abnormal" things.
After a new sex-educational program was confirmed at county school board in January, the first test lessons fell under criticism of some parents who didn't want their children to be taught something that doesn't coincide to their family beliefs. Citizen group appealed to state Board of Education to halt lessons they consider inappropriate.
However, those students who have already attended pilot sex-educational lessons found them helpful and unbiased. Children are informed on such things as homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender, homophobia and condom use. Parents who stand by Citizen group oppose that lessons should teach their children on heterosexual marriage as the only option for accepted lifestyle.
Supporters of new curriculum say they do not impose any point of view. Jim Kennedy, a founding member of teachthefacts.org, who stands for curriculum says that classes could be attended by students who agree on the program.
This is the first time county public schools include sex-educational lessons on sexual orientation and final word on new curriculum is anticipated by the next fall. As the school board decision is still not conclusive, parents who do not give their children permission to attend classes will fail to explain their disapproval with the new program.
Common myths about gaysDec 26, 2006 |
1. Heterosexual love is the only norm for people; otherwise it should be considered pathology.
Love does't have the only norm, pattern or some other certain rules to follow. Sometimes we tend to name pathology something that we cannot explain or something we haven't any idea of.
2. Gays hate women.
To love a man doesn't mean that you therefore will be unfriendly towards women. Love is a positive feeling and it doesn't affect your attitude towards the opposite sex.
3. Homosexuality can be changed through a therapy.
Gays are not ill therefore it can not be cured. Psychological or medical treatment is useless, as sexual and emotional feelings cannot be changed artificially.
4. One can choose whether to be or not to be a gay.
Most gays sense their orientation as natural, but not a choice, they need to make. We fall in love with somebody irrespective of his or her sex because of complicated emotional and psychological feelings.
5. Most gays have mental diseases, they more often commit suicide and suffer neuroses.
This is an absolutely false statement, and it is a universally acknowledged fact that it has nothing to do with mental disease. There are no more neurotics among gays than within heterosexual community.
6. You can readily distinguish a gay as they have particular “female” manners.
You can come across a gay and most probably won't pay attention that they are somewhat different. Most people have both feminine and masculine features, and it can be someone's own particular characteristic but not necessarily determines his behavior. The way of behavior can be rather various depending on the individuality.
7. Gays are more sexually aggressive; they solicit young men in public places.
There are no proves that gays are more active sexually than heterosexual men, neither is the difference between them in soliciting in public places.
8. Gay couple goes against nature as they can’t give birth to a child.
Every tenth heterosexual couple is childless. So nobody punishes them for that.
9. Gays adopt children in order to bring up a gay.
You can't bring somebody up a gay, there are no scientifically proven facts that you can educate anyone sexual orientation, otherwise everybody in our society would be a heterosexual.
10. AIDS is a punishment for gays.
Doctors at first discovered gays to be infected with AIDS, but this are a pure coincidence. Why does God punish children with poliomyelitis or any other disease? Is there a punishment for some sin?
People with different background, religion and skin color have AIDS; this disease doesn’t choose a particular person with a "particular orientation".
