Comments on: Gay Rights in 2009 http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/2009/02/20/gay-rights-2009/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:16:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Casey http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/2009/02/20/gay-rights-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-46757 Casey Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:35:09 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/?p=1829#comment-46757 Over the past few months I’ve participated in the marches and vigils for gay rights sponsored by various groups such as Equality California, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Courage Campaign. It has been great to see the massive turnouts and outpouring of support. But after leaving I felt we hadn’t accomplished much other than raise our voices in unison to the media. However, this past weekend I took part in a project to build a house sponsored by the Empowering Spirits Foundation and was blown away. Their goal is to promote equality by working alongside individuals who were fairly conservative and mostly against homosexuals. In doing so you get to know the people and eventually begin conversing about our differences in a positive way. I realize that not everyone will open up, but for the few that did you could see their views change as they asked more questions and realized the stereotypes were mostly wrong. One lady even said to me “it’s been great speaking with you, you are the first gay person I’ve met and not what I expected.” It was great to not only make a difference in the community, but feel like you truly made an impact in changing someone’s opinion of gays. I encourage anyone looking to get involved in the fight for lgbt equality to look up the Empowering Spirits Foundation. They have a truly rare approach to the struggle for gay rights, which in my personal opinion will greatly encourage equality than just marching in a parade. BTW, here is a link to their Facebook fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Empowering-Spirits-Foundation/49288966338 Over the past few months I’ve participated in the marches and vigils for gay rights sponsored by various groups such as Equality California, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Courage Campaign. It has been great to see the massive turnouts and outpouring of support. But after leaving I felt we hadn’t accomplished much other than raise our voices in unison to the media. However, this past weekend I took part in a project to build a house sponsored by the Empowering Spirits Foundation and was blown away. Their goal is to promote equality by working alongside individuals who were fairly conservative and mostly against homosexuals. In doing so you get to know the people and eventually begin conversing about our differences in a positive way. I realize that not everyone will open up, but for the few that did you could see their views change as they asked more questions and realized the stereotypes were mostly wrong. One lady even said to me “it’s been great speaking with you, you are the first gay person I’ve met and not what I expected.” It was great to not only make a difference in the community, but feel like you truly made an impact in changing someone’s opinion of gays.

I encourage anyone looking to get involved in the fight for lgbt equality to look up the Empowering Spirits Foundation. They have a truly rare approach to the struggle for gay rights, which in my personal opinion will greatly encourage equality than just marching in a parade.

BTW, here is a link to their Facebook fanpage – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Empowering-Spirits-Foundation/49288966338

]]> By: Craig Kellner http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/2009/02/20/gay-rights-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-46756 Craig Kellner Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:52:13 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/?p=1829#comment-46756 It's always going to be a struggle, but the goal is too important to give up or ignore. It’s always going to be a struggle, but the goal is too important to give up or ignore.

]]> By: scotth http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/2009/02/20/gay-rights-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-46660 scotth Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:12:02 +0000 http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/?p=1829#comment-46660 the smartest thing president obama and the democratic congress can do is to legalize gay marriage, repeal don't ask, don't tell and deny the military the ability to throw people out for being gay. then, the propositions that would outlaw gay marriage in state could not happen, which have been the sole motivation for many a republican to get out and vote. then if as many gay couples as possible would get married in the next 4 years, the republicans might finally see that the world is changing and they should focus their attention to making this a better world instead of a hate filled world. the smartest thing president obama and the democratic congress can do is to legalize gay marriage, repeal don’t ask, don’t tell and deny the military the ability to throw people out for being gay. then, the propositions that would outlaw gay marriage in state could not happen, which have been the sole motivation for many a republican to get out and vote. then if as many gay couples as possible would get married in the next 4 years, the republicans might finally see that the world is changing and they should focus their attention to making this a better world instead of a hate filled world.

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