Posts made by raphjd

I can remember always being attracted to guys.

I never made a "choice", it just was.

Please bring the discussion back to the thread topic.  :police:

Pong; and before that, there were no video games

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/28/catholic-school-bans-pupils-from-doing-project-on-gay-rights/

Catholic school ‘bans’ pupils from doing project on gay rights

A Catholic school has banned two 11-year-old girls from doing a class project on gay rights.

When pupils at St George Catholic School in Ottawa were asked to pick a subject for project to go on display at a social justice fair, Quinn Maloney-Tavares and Polly Hamilton decided to choose gay rights.

However, the school principal Ann Beauchamp put a stop to it – claiming that the project was inappropriate for younger pupils.

Quinn Maloney-Tavares told the Ottowa Citizen: “A lot of people, they don’t know being rude, but they make being gay a bad thing. They need to know that it’s not a bad thing.”

A statement from the school claimed: “The principal’s decision was made in this context and with the understanding that the project was going to be presented to younger students.

“Our board’s focus on equity and family life programs ensures students are taught within the context of our faith, with a focus on the dignity of personhood.”

However, the girls did not take the ban lying down – and Quinn’s mother Ann Maloney met with the school to attempt to change their minds.

Ms Maloney said: “Why are we still here, as Catholics, where we can’t talk about gay rights? It’s ridiculous, as far as I’m concerned.”

When the school decided to maintain the ban, pupils decided to protest the move – with the girls and a number of others painting rainbow flags on their hands.

Ms Maloney added: “They’ve learned more about social justice in a week than they ever could have by doing a project. It’s been very real for them.”

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/23/northern-ireland-dup-to-introduce-bill-to-exempt-religious-people-from-equality-laws/

Northern Ireland: DUP to introduce bill to exempt religious people from equality laws

A DUP politician in Northern Ireland has unveiled plans to introduce a ‘conscience clause’ – which would allow religious people to ignore equality laws and discriminate against gays.

Asher’s Baking Company made headlines this year when it refused the request of a gay rights activist for a cake showing the message ‘Support Gay Marriage’, above an image of Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie.

The Equality Commission has since stated that this act broke anti-discrimination laws – but the bakery says it will make a stand for its ‘Christian’ principles.

Today, MLA Paul Givan has pledged to introduce a private member’s bill which would effectively void parts of equality laws – by allowing religious people freedom to discriminate against gays based on their ‘conscience’.

He said: “This clause will enhance equality legislation.

“Equality is about ensuring that everybody in society is allowed to live out their lives.

“We now are heading towards a community where it’s not just about live and let live – people are now saying, ‘you need to affirm my particular lifestyle and if that goes against your conscience, you have to do that’.

“That’s not equality; that’s intolerance.”

He has the backing of First Minister Peter Robinson, who told delegates at the DUP conference: “I have become increasingly alarmed at the uneven pitch upon which rights and equality issues are played out. More and more the balance is tipped against people of faith.
“This has been recently demonstrated by the treatment meted out to the Ashers Baking Company.

“I believe in freedom of conscience. There will often be competing rights and freedoms but, nobody should be compelled or coerced into supporting, sanctioning or promoting views or opinions which conflict with their strongly held religious convictions.”

“The publicly-funded Equality Commission has launched an unjustified attack on a small Christian family business. This is simply bullying.

“I contend that the Equality Commission is seeking to use the Ashers case to add a further layer of restrictions on Christian behaviour and practice.

In an unprecedented move, Mr Robinson also called for DUP members to come forward to contribute to the bakery’s legal costs.

Mr Givan is expected to shortly introduce a consultation on introducing a ‘conscience clause’ provision.

Northern Ireland already lags far behind the rest of the UK on equality measures – banning same-sex marriage and refusing to lift the lifetime ban on gay men giving blood.

Of course they wouldn't try allowing believers to actively show their "religious consciencious" against any other groups.    That shows it's not about "religious freedom" but rather all about blatant bigotry against LGBTs.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/28/petition-started-calling-on-uganda-to-scrap-all-anti-gay-laws/

Petition started calling on Uganda to scrap all anti-gay laws

A petition has been started calling for all anti-gay legislation to be scrapped in Uganda.

The petition, started by the Out and Proud Diamond Group African LGBTI, not only calls for proposed anti-gay legislation to be scrapped, but also asks for Constitutional Amendments and amendments to the Penal Code, as well as protections for LGBT people.

Last year the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a bill increasing already harsh penalties for those found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality.”

Despite the law having been found unconstitutional on a technicality earlier this year, Ugandan politicians have promised that a new, harsher law, will be voted on by Christmas.

The new version of Uganda’s anti-gay law could effectively make all gay and lesbian people homeless, and equates homosexuality to bestiality.

It was announced earlier this week that Uganda will be hosting the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, and yesterday Musveni said Uganda was a “better destination” than Spain for tourists.

The change.org petition can be signed here.

The petition can be found here;  https://www.change.org/p/uganda-parliamentarians-ugandan-parliament-and-the-president-don-t-introduce-pass-or-sign-the-proposed-new-anti-gay-bill-2014

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/27/towies-charlie-king-being-in-the-closet-left-me-feeling-empty/

TOWIE’s Charlie King: Being in the closet left me feeling empty

Former The Only Way is Essex star Charlie King says he struggled to see the point in life when he was still in the closet.
King, 29, came out as gay on This morning last month.

He previously had a short-lived relationship with TOWIE star Gemma Collins, but admits he wasn’t being true to himself or those around him, leaving him depressed and “feeling empty”.

King told aTeen magazine: “I had plunged myself into my own catering business to keep me away from people and would work until I was so tired that I could go home, sleep, and walk the dogs and go back to work.

“I found myself feeling very empty, I was driving a beautiful car, wearing lovely clothes but actually not having friends to share it with, no social life and everything I thought I had wanted was exactly what I didn’t want.

“I would ask why am I struggling inside so much, why am I so lost and why is it I have so many blessings but am so unhappy? What is my purpose? Was there any point in living?”

He added: “Gemma was someone who I really did like – I found myself drawn to her as a person. I dated her because I thought at that time it was what I wanted to do.

“I guess looking back I can see how it looks now – she wasn’t going to want to jump into bed right away, not did I think she would pressure me to do so.

“We didn’t click and I guess deep down my struggles with identifying who I am were lurking in the distance.”

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/28/us-fda-to-consider-relaxing-gay-blood-ban/

28th November 2014, 5:03 PM

US: FDA ‘to consider’ relaxing gay blood ban

The Food and Drug Administration will meet next week to consider recommendations to lift the permanent ban on gay men giving blood.

In the US at present, regulations introduced during the AIDS crisis mean that all men who have sex with men are currently banned from giving blood for life.

However, critics say the practice is discriminatory and does not reflect modern screening practices, and the FDA is facing calls to introduce less discriminatory rules.

Earlier this month, a key advisory committee made recommendations that the regulations should be relaxed, voting 16-2 in favour of instead introducing a 12 month ban for MSM, similar to the UK.

FDA advisers will meet next week to consider the recommendations – which might not be adopted, as they are non-binding.

FDA spokeswoman Jennifer Rodriguez told The Hill: “Following deliberations taking into consideration the available evidence, the FDA will issue revised guidance, if appropriate.”

National Gay Blood Drive activist Ryan James Yezak said: “We’ve got the ball rolling. I feel like this is a tide-turning vote.
“There’s been a lot of feet dragging and I think they’re realizing it now.”

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/21/uganda-new-law-could-make-almost-every-gay-person-homeless/

Uganda: New law could make almost every gay person homeless

A new, harsher version of Uganda’s anti-gay law could effectively make all gay and lesbian people homeless.

Despite not appearing on the agenda for the next Ruling Party Caucus on 13 December, politicians in Uganda have promised the bill will be introduced by Christmas.

The new bill includes language which potentially criminalises any landlord or owner or renter of a property where an “unnatural act [gay sex]” takes place.

It criminalises anyone who “leases or subleases, uses or allows to be used any premises for the purpose of engaging in unnatural sexual practices.”
Jonathan Cooper, director of the Human Dignity Trust, said: “Under this Bill, if a landlord rents accommodation to a gay man or lesbian knowing that they may engage in intimacy in their home, that landlord will face the prospect of a seven year prison sentence. Why would that landlord take the risk? Gay men and lesbians already renting accommodation risk being evicted. If this Bill becomes law, the tyranny against the LGBTI community in Uganda continues. This wanton persecution must stop.”

Frank Mugisha, a Ugandan LGBT rights activist added: “When the Government turns on us in this way, the first problem is always housing. We get evicted, landlords won’t rent to us and many gay and lesbian people are made homeless. The next problem is employment rights. We have none. On top of that many people are rejected by their families. Members of the LGBTI community end up in a spiral of poverty and despair. And if that isn’t bad enough, violence against us becomes routine and normal. Instead of protecting all Ugandan citizens, we are targeted by the state and exposed to all sorts of inhumanity.”

The country’s previous Anti-Homosexuality Act was struck down by a court – but lawmakers are drafting an even harsher ‘Prohibition of the Promotion of Unnatural Sexual Practices Bill’ to replace it.

A report by Sexual Minorities Uganda, stated that 40% of reported cases of arrest or charge under the now defunct Act, resulted in the accused being evicted from their home.

I knew about graphene before this thread, but I didn't know about this use.

One of the planned uses is for backing the gold dust covered material that's used to reflect heat on satellites.

Finding Mr Right is a lot harder than finding Mr Right-now, that should be obvious.

A lot of men (gay and hetero) get scared off by their partner constantly going on about marriage and babies, in a young relationship.  We've all seen the sitcoms where the woman wears her wedding dress on 1st dates and yammers on about baby names.

If the relationship is worthwhile, as opposed to just settling, then let it develop and see what happens.  Look around our forums.  Many guys either want to wait a few years before considering marriage or they may not ever want to get married, even though they want a life time monogamous relationship.  A lot of LGBTs hate marriage because it's "hetero normative".

Gays probably have more open relationships, especially when compared to older heteros.

Also, there's a difference between "a portion of" and "all of".  In order to make his comments true, every gay relationship would have to be open.  I've been in a 20+ year monogamous gay relationship.  So his statement fails.

A basic marriage or civil union (or civil partnership in the UK) is a lot cheaper and easier than having to get the countless legal documents needed to secure the same rights.

In the UK, the current price for marriage at the registrar office is £195.  That's all in; everything included for up to 4 guests including the 2 witnesses.  A basic Will will cost between £75 and £150, depending on where you live and if you are on welfare.  This doesn't include the filing fee to make the Will official. I think we paid £35, about 6 years ago.  So adjusting for price increases, that means that just doing a Will (not on welfare) costs more than getting married.  Then of course you have to make up many more legal documents to cover the other things that are included in marriage.

Marriage can be fought based on an extremely limited set of grounds.  Legal documents, however, can be fought on a multitude of grounds.

I love Logan McCree.  He's extremely hot as long as he has hair on his head like in the previous post.  I hate when he has his head shaved.

True, the internet is a utility.

However, unlike the Ma Bell breakup, you have plenty of choice in services/companies to use.

With the Ma Bell case, you have no choice, it was Ma Bell or nothing.    You can use one of many search engines, you aren't limited to only Google.

As far as I know, there isn't a single part of Google's business that you have no other choices.

Oddly, many things in the EU are monopolies, especially utilities and they do nothing about that.  In the UK, while there are many water companies, you have zero choice because only 1 company serves your area.

Pretty much everywhere has seen a drop in marriages.    This trend has been going on for decades.

Some of the older people will remember the bizarre media battle that then Vice President Dan Quayle had with TV character Murphy Brown over having a baby out of wedlock.

The "official surveys" that he refers to are from anti gay hate groups like NARTH, etc.

In previous comments, he's said that there is no such thing as monogamy in gay relationships and many other anti gay things.

I can understand the Micro$oft case, but the Google case makes little sense.

Google doesn't require you to use any of it's services.  If you decide to use just a single service, so be it.  So it's not an antitrust (monopoly) case in the sense the Micro$oft case was.

A majority of Europeans decide that Google is the search engine of choice, so the company, as a whole, has to be broken up.    It shows that being successful is bad for business, if you do it in the EU.

No one is forced to use Google, there are plenty of other options.    This situation is the polar opposite of the Ma Bell break up of the late 1970s.

It's like saying Coca Cola has to be broken up because it's more popular than Dr Pepper.

I'm a dual national (US and UK).

Also, this is an international site.

He should become the leader of Westboro Church.