Sometimes I Wonder if the Pilgrims Made a Mistake Fleeing Britain

Between the universal health care and the strict gun control, sometimes I wonder if splitting from the UK was the best idea. And then there's this:

The tribunal ruled that a "heterosexuals only" policy in the adoption field of the Catholic Church in England and Wales would fall foul of the ban on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation brought in two years ago.

Well done England. If only we could recognize the pure bigotry that is so blatant amongst our own religious "charities," let alone non-religious charities.

This decision is due to the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, which came into effect in 2007. Essentially, this act says what anyone with intelligence should know, that it is wrong to discriminate, on any grounds, against someone because of the person's sexual orientation. It would be beautiful, and something I know we will not see anytime soon, if the US could follow suit and pass our own act protecting the rights of homosexuals.

I Should Be Getting Laid More

Cross-posted at DailyKos

By now, we have all heard about Miss California's remarks on gay marriage. While I completely disagree with her belief on this issue, this is an opportunity to engage the nation, and many people that might not otherwise be engaged, in a serious discussion about the suffering, and the hopes, of American homosexuals.

I find this topic hinges on one major point: is homosexuality a choice?

They, as in the homophobic movement, tell us it is. That is why, they say, you cannot compare the gay rights movement to the civil rights movement in the 60's and 70's. They say, "It's different. You are born black, or brown, or white, or whatever, but you choose to be gay."

This, of course, begs the immediate question of, "When did you choose to be straight?" Think about yourself, whether homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual. If you are straight, you're not attracted to everyone of the opposite sex right? And at least once, in your lifetime, you thought someone was pretty fucking hot and your best friend thought your were nuts, right? Or maybe your friend thought someone was hot who you would not ever touch? But that's just physical attraction.

When we get into personal attraction the divide grows larger. You and your friend will likely disagree more often on who is personally attractive. And you definitely do not choose. You do not decide, out of nowhere, "Well, I really hate this person, and I find him/her ugly, but I think we'll get married." Okay, okay, gold diggers. Sure, but that's considered immoral isn't it? Are we not taught by our parents, our teachers, our role models, that we should marry the person we love? Not the person with money, or power, or fame. Not the person that will make your life easier.

What we are asking homosexuals to do, if they wish to get married, is to choose who they are attracted to both physically and personally. This is asking an unfair burden. This is asking a burden that is not asked of heterosexuals, any longer. It is segregation. And the truly disgusting side effects of this government sanctioned segregation are; the people who feel their hatred affirmed, the beatings, the murders, the rapes, the barrage of insults and humiliation, that often lead to suicide.

All this, because some people think that homosexuals choose to be that way, because they believe it is acceptable to hate something they deem a choice.

So, I will end with this. If it truly is a choice who you are attracted to, I should be getting laid way more than I do. If only I could choose to be attracted to anyone, I would never have to go without. Sadly, that is not the way the world works. I do not get to choose who I am attracted to.

What Opposition to Gay Marriage is Doing

I am a fervent supporter of gay rights, including gay marriage. Whether it is intentional or not, the denial of rights have the left the gay community as a lesser population. Their relationships are seen as less important, and their struggles are seen as insignificant, self-inflicted. This is just one example of the consequences of treating homosexuals like a lesser class:

Genesio "Junior" Oliveira has been separated from his husband, Tim Coco, since August 2007, when he left the country after his request for asylum and an appeal were denied.

Oliveira asked for asylum in 2002, saying he was raped and attacked by a physician as a teenager in Brazil and feared persecution because of his sexuality.

Kudos to Sen. Kerry. If gay marriage was legal, this man's sincere request for asylum would never be a topic for discussion. This should be a no-brainer, and hopefully President Obama's administration views it that way.