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Tuesday 4/26/2011  
TRANSGENDER WOMAN ALMOST BEATEN TO DEATH























































Welcome to McDonald’s, Where Violence and Homophobia are More Popular Than the Big Mac!

 


(Baltimore, Maryland Transgendered Woman Almost Killed While Apathetic and Insensitive Crew Members Encourage Assailants)


McDonald’s has finally reached the ultimate pinnacle in their quest to provide the perfect family dining experience.  They now offer you dinner theatre with their mouthwatering Big Macs, delicious fries, Filet Fish sandwiches, Value Meals and Fruit Smoothies. Now, customers can watch murderous homophobic female thugs, as they attempt to kill members of the LGBT community, while Management and crew members cheer them on and video tape horrific violent assaults to later post on YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK and other HIP HOP Social networks.



Sound unbelievable??? Well, that is exactly what happened on a chilling Baltimore evening at around 8 p.m., inside a McDonald's restaurant in the 6300 block of Kenwood Avenue. What fueled the incident was when a Transgendered woman made her way toward the women’s restroom to use the facility. The victim first asked one of the McDonald crew members if she could use the restroom and was told that she had to purchase some food in order to use the facility. She responded by saying that she really had to go right away and could not wait. According to the woman, while walking toward the restroom an unidentified man apparently approached her, possibly one of the girl’s boyfriends, in an attempt to flirt with her, but the woman declined his offer and immediately went into the restroom. When she came out two African-American females, 14 and 18 spat in her face and began arguing with her, expressing their objection to the woman using the bathroom and one of the women accused her of flirting with her boyfriend. The argument escalated into what has become one of the most violent attacks ever viewed on the internet. As a matter of fact, immediately after the video was uploaded to several popular social networks, it went viral!


When I first learned of this incident, I was warned that the video is extremely violent and graphically disturbing, but never in my wildest dreams, could I have ever imagined just how horrific and disgusting it would be to watch! All through the video, I was overwhelmed by a variety of emotions. All the while, cringing in disbelief and thinking to myself, “This cannot be happening and why isn’t anyone making any real attempt to stop this violent attack, phone the police; and my God, where is the manager?” And then out of nowhere, after several minutes which seemed like hours of brutal beating, an elderly woman dressed in white like an angelic emissary appears on the scene to rescue the woman in distress. Even though, it is clear that she is no match for the two younger women attacking the victim, she literally places her life in jeopardy, in a courageous attempt to defuse the situation and ward off the attackers. While her efforts were not completely successful (because the assailants later returned to beat the woman even more viciously), still her intervention delayed the attackers and may possibly have saved the woman’s life.


Now, you are probably wondering, like me, where was the staff and where was the manager? That’s an easy question to answer; the manager is making a half- hearted attempt to stop the fight while others can be heard in the background, peering through video phone camera lenses, boasting about how they are going to put the video on YOUTUBE and other social networks. The Manager on duty made an insincere attempt to intervene only after the badly beaten victim was viciously dragged by the hair to the front door by the young female thugs who seemed intent upon murder. After a sustained barrage of brutal kicks to the head, the victim began convulsing; bleeding from the mouth, all of which was followed by a violent seizure.


Moreover, while this occurred, the crew was gleefully cheering the thugs on while videotaping it, never making a genuine attempt to defuse the attack and/or phone the police. Instead of the manager locking the door and retaining the two women who had attacked the victim until the police could arrive, the employees encouraged them to flee for their own protection and the manager walked over the victim’s body lying in the doorway (as he can be seen doing throughout the video) like she was a piece of trash that was totally unworthy of any type of assistance.  


When Baltimore County officers finally arrived, they found a 22-year-old woman convulsing and having seizures. She was still lying in the doorway of the restaurant. After the woman had recovered to some degree, the officers questioned the woman and apparently ran a make on the woman to determine if she had a criminal history. Their inquiry revealed that the victim had a lengthy rap sheet, which of course had nothing at all to do with the incident or the fact that she had been undeservedly almost beaten to death by vicious attackers. The victim’s criminal history and even home address were made public after the unmerciful beating, further jeopardizing the woman’s safety and adding to the emotional duress, physical and mental trauma caused by her assailants.  


The owner of that particular McDonald's announced on Saturday afternoon, April 23, 2011 that one employee who taped the violent beating and put it on YOUTUBE and other social networks for all the wrong reasons had been fired (quite justifiably so). He also responded by expressing his dismay about the entire incident:


 


"My first and foremost concern is with the victim," franchise owner Mitchell McPherson said in a statement, adding that action might be taken against other restaurant workers as well. "I'm as shocked and disturbed by this assault as anyone would be. The behavior displayed in the video is unfathomable and reprehensible."


I am inclined to agree wholeheartedly with Mr. McPherson, however; if I were in his position, I would fire every employee! Starting with the manager and every crew member who stood idly by and witnessed the incident and did nothing to stop it or even intervene by calling the police.


Some people have stated that the transgender woman should not have attempted to use the women’s restroom and expressed their vehement disapproval. I realize that most people don’t fully understand anything about transgender people, but since we are having a “TEACHABLE MOMENT,” it should be noted that most transgender people don’t think of themselves as being gay, but see their gender assignment at birth as a false or as an incomplete description of themselves. Therefore, it is only natural for them to dress, act, and yes, even use public lavatories that are appropriate for them as a transgender woman or man. Needless to say, it was probably extremely wise and appropriate for the transgender woman to use the women’s restroom, because if the truth be told, had she entered the men’s restroom (in some minority communities) she could have placed herself in even greater jeopardy!


Not long ago, Baltimore, Maryland was besieged by Evangelical ministers who had fled the DC area after being expelled from the region. They were horribly defeated by the LGBT community and affirming Congregations during the implementation of (Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009 Bill 18-482), granting the right to same sex couples to marry. Of course, since Baltimore, Maryland is in close proximity to Washington, DC, it was only natural for the LGBT community to seek the same constitutional rights and provision to marry as well. However, religious leaders banned together enraging the African-American community and pitting them against the gay community once again, killing the bill. It is no secret that the Black Church has tremendous influence over the African-American community and influences the minds of the countless thousands within its ranks. Furthermore, it is no secret that sometimes this vehement disapproval mutates within the Black community and manifests itself in the form of overt bigotry and hatred toward same-gender-loving people, even outside of the church. I don’t blame the ministers for these acts of violence completely, but I do blame them for not telling their parishioners that whatever their doctrinal beliefs are about same-gender-loving people, those beliefs never gives any individual the right to discriminate or beat anyone unmercifully or to murder them!


I have said it before and I will say it again! These types of horrible occurrences are not isolated incidents, but are a result of years of consensual discrimination that this country endorses and allows! These horrific incidents will continue to occur at an alarming rate and will become even more visible, as long as we preach biased messages from pulpits that brand ALL same-gender-loving people as sinful sodomites who are hell bound and view transgender people as the ultimate abomination. Innocent women, children and teens will continue to commit suicide by the thousands and athletes will think nothing of blurting out gay slurs for millions of fans on national television to hear without conscience. As long as rap artists (whom we worship) are allowed to continually spew out homophobic lyrics, secretly knowing that they have our mental endorsement and permission to reshape the mindsets of our children with subliminal homophobic messages cleverly woven into the fabric of rap lyrics, then we can expect to see more incidents like this occur. Most children who are gay, bisexual, or lesbian aren’t as bold as transgender people are and many hide their sexual orientation from parents and guardians in the African-American community most of their lives until they eventually cast off the chains of discrimination and oppression and come out.


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., modeled his life after Christ and both of them were an example to us all. Their goal in mind was to teach us to love one another and to respect one another because every human being is made in the image of the Creator and deserves their God-given equal rights. Many religious extremists rant and claim that acceptance of all people is against God’s will and that by granting all people equal rights will most certainly lead to the demise and the downfall of our great nation. But I prefer to think the opposite! I prefer to embrace the philosophy and vision of our forefathers whom under divine inspiration crafted the Constitution (an ingenious revolutionary document which is still the envy of countless nations today) and believed that all people deserve equal rights. If our nation falls, it will not be because people are gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender; it will be because we have allowed ourselves to become deluded and deceived by our own homophobic prejudices, still intent upon continuing our legacy of discrimination and hatred that have stained the pages of our history with the blood of the innocent for decades!


by Terry Angel Mason, Global Author
WWW.TERRYANGELMASON.COM


 


 

 
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Saturday 4/9/2011  
DeJuaii Pace, Tonex and Ray Boltz Come Out



This morning after dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled into my living room and sat down in front of my computer in order to check my email. After wiping the sleep from my eyes, I was shocked when I read an email from BlackPlanet.com and Newsone.com disclosing the fact that DeJuaii Pace (a renowned gospel singer, a member of the famous Pace Sisters) had just announced to the entire world that she is a lesbian and has been suppressing her natural inclinations since the age of four. The article also mentioned the fact that she would be telling her story of how she had overcome her food addiction and had come to terms with her sexuality this Tuesday on the OWN Network (owned and operated by Oprah Winfrey).


As I finished reading the article, I immediately scrolled down to the comment section of the article (s) to get some type of idea as to what other reader's reactions would be, regarding DeJuaii's disclosure. I have to tell you that after reading several of the comments, my heart literally sunk into the pit of my stomach, due to the fact that the comments were filled with so much hatred and homophobic venom. The comments were so extreme until it made me ashamed to even refer to myself as a Christian! Nothing that anyone had to say even mirrored anything that looked, acted or sounded like the love of God! And the most offensive thing of all was that they did it in the name of Jesus, and felt justified in doing so! Anyone who knows anything about Christianity or the Bible will tell you that love is kind, patient, forgiving, not boastful, never arrogant, edifies and never destroys!


DeJuaii, like thousands of African-American children, grew up in a Pentecostal, holiness environment and any notion of even sleeping with a man before wedlock was completely out of the question and frowned upon by the Church in every way. If a young woman would come up pregnant, she would immediately be ostracized from the church and/or prohibited from participating in any aspect of ministry until she had come before the entire congregation to repent and ask forgiveness, possibly then, she could be reinstated.


Instead of DeJuaii, yielding to the temptation of sleeping with a male or a female (like most contemporary Christians do) she did something that most of us could never fathom, and that was to remain sexually inactive. Even today, at the age of 45, she is still a virgin.


Tonex, now known as B. Slade was also publically and ruthlessly attacked by his gospel peers, (and so-called brothers and sisters in Christ) after disclosing that he was a same-gender-loving Christian man. Almost immediately, other gospel artists (who had claimed to be die-hard friends and fans) began to venomously slander him and quickly distanced themselves from him. Furthermore, they could even be heard in public arenas referring to him as a pervert, sexual vampire and heretic!


Ray Boltz, a renowned Gospel singer and composer, who sold about 4.5 million records before retiring from the Christian music industry a few years ago, rocked the Evangelical world after he disclosed to the world that he was also gay. Like DeJuaii Pace, Ray's life was plummeting into a valley of despair, and deep depression, and he almost committed suicide; the result of having suppressed his sexual preference for most of his life. In his own words Ray reveals the deep emotional trauma, mental anguish, and agony that he suffered for years while in ministry:


"I'd denied it ever since I was a kid," Boltz said, then 55. I became a Christian, I thought that was the way to deal with this and I prayed hard and tried for 30-some years and then at the end, I was just going, I'm still gay. I know I am. And I just got to the place where I couldn't take it anymore -- when I was going through all this darkness, I thought, 'Just end this! "


And that is exactly what thousands of children, teens and young adults have done over the past few decades, "They simply got tired of trying to change something about themselves that was a natural as their skin color or as an inherent as their musical gifts and abilities, which birthed some of the world's most anointed gospel music," - They just simply gave up and ended their mental and emotional torment by committing suicide! Had Tonex (aka B. Slade), DeJuaii Pace and Ray Boltz done the same, the world would have suffered a loss that they could have never recovered from or ever recreated! You see, we are all uniquely placed on this planet with a divine destiny and a divine purpose that only each of us individually can fulfill.


When the Ted Haggard and the Bishop Eddie Long scandal came out the entire Christian world was shocked and devastated after it was alleged that these revered spiritual leaders had been accused of engaging in gay sex. But if the truth be told, there are thousands of same-gender-loving people in the church (functioning in every aspect of ministry) and there always have been! Suffice it to say, if all same-gender-loving people would leave the church and/or refuse to participate in any aspect of ministry, hundreds, if not thousands of ministries would shut down!


Wednesday night, while in the midst of teaching Bible Study, I came across this marvelous scripture in the Bible, found in the book of St. John, Chapter 4, vs. 24


"God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [Him] in spirit and in truth."


Nobody in the world will ever be able to convince me that we are worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth hiding who we really are, in a closet of self-rejection and denial. Moreover, we do this because we fear being rejected by the world. Yet, I must admit that this is exactly what countless heterosexual Christians do all the time. They may not be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, but they sleep around with everybody and anybody which accounts for much of the spread of Std's and HIV in the African-American community today. They cheat on their husbands and wives, engage in unethical business practices daily and neglect their children. Yet, hypocritically, they are quick to point the finger at someone like DeJuaii, whom by the way is living a celibate and holy life! Makes you wonder just what is wrong with our ability to discern truth and walk in it.


On one occasion (in Biblical times) the people of the city brought a woman to Jesus whom had been caught in adultery, demanding that she be stoned. Instead of condemning her, Jesus quietly knelt down and began scribbling something in the sand. Many theologians believe that he was scribbling all the names of the people in the crowd who had slept with her and were just as guilty; hoping she would be stoned to death so that their sexual involvement with her would never be publically revealed. After a few minutes the crowds dispersed having left their stones lying in the street.


Jesus, immediately arose and asked the woman this question, "Woman, where are thine accusers?" She answered by saying, "They are gone!" He responded by saying, "Neither do I condemn thee..."


The other night I sat in a dimly lit room devastated by the fact that one of my most beloved friends refused to participate in an upcoming musical Christmas CD project with me, solely because I am a gay man. But what is most astounding is that this same person has been married over four times and has slept with more women on the planet than any self respecting God-fearing Christian man would dare to claim in good conscience. Ironically, he still is not living a celibate life, even though he claims to be a die-hard Christian!


And even though I have experienced this type of rejection all of my life, I must admit that it still hurts when someone you love rejects you in this manner. I was able to recover from the rejection but that is not the case for many same-gender-loving believers in the church who sit there Sunday after Sunday hearing sermons that reinforce self-hatred and brainwash people into believing that the Creator does not love them. Moreover, I sadly wonder how many more people will jump off bridges, take overdoses, eat themselves to death or shoot themselves in the head with a gun before the church wakes up and truly learns to walk in love.


By Terry Angel Mason, Global Author
WWW.TERRYANGELMASON.COM


CHECK OUT THIS DYNAMIC VIDEO FEATURING THIS AWARD WINNING AUTHOR
Afraid to tell your family and friends that you are gay or lesbian?
Have a gay son or lesbian daughter and not sure how to handle the situation?


Know someone who is being bullied or rejected by family and friends because they are gay?


Are you struggling with reconciling your sexuality and spirituality because you are a same-gender-loving person?


Click on this link to upload free excerpts from my bestselling book:
LOVE WON'T LET ME BE SILENT
LORD, MY CHILD IS GAY, WHAT DO I DO?


DOES GOD HATE ME BECAUSE I AM GAY?

 
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Wednesday 4/6/2011  
BLACK, GAY, AND HIV POSITIVE IN THE BLACK CHURCH



Infected By What Some Say Is An Unforgiveable Sin and An Incurable Disease


By Angel Mason, by Global Author 



(Embrace this truth and it will surely set you free!)


The other day while visiting a very popular website, I stumbled onto a video of a very renowned Pastor who was being interviewed by Piers Morgan on CNN. In the interview, Piers asked this guest minister if he thought being gay was a sin and of course the minister responded (as most ministers do) resoundingly by answering, "YES! I DO BELIEVE THAT BEING GAY IS A SIN!" As the interview progressed, the Pastor began to explain to the host why he felt this way, yet went out of his way to point out that his church does not condemn gay people and that he believes God loves all people. For most same-gender-loving people, this type of response is nothing new, since most have heard this repetitive message all of their lives. For many, this inescapable message has been literally and indelibly seared into their hearts and conscious minds, as though by a moral laser. Because of this philosophy, multitudes have left traditional churches by the masses. Even though some overcome the deep feelings of rejection that they feel from family members, associates and friends, many still wrestle with the idea that The Creator of the universe rejects them and because He does, has condemned them to an eternity of unimaginable suffering in an abyss known to many as, "Hell."


Because I am a believer and heavily involved in several aspects of ministry at my church, it affords me the opportunity to visit numerous churches of all denominations all over the country. And to be honest with you, Sunday after Sunday, I often worry about the psychological and spiritual damage that could possibly be inflicted upon same-gender-loving people as they sing in choirs, play instruments, usher on Usher Boards, serve as Deacons, teach Sunday School and Bible Studies, Evangelize and even Minister. It greatly disturbs me that they are forced to listen to rehashed homophobic sermons proclaiming that God loves the sinner but hates the sin - with same sex attraction being at the top of the list. Being a gay man, I know this is where the problem lies. You see, for me being gay was not something I just decided to do because I wanted to defy God or revolt against the norms of society just to make a statement. Being gay for me was as natural as the color of my ebony brown skin, as natural as breathing, singing and playing the piano. So my dilemma was always how could who I am and what I am be a sin?


Today, I am a mature man, but I have been in the church since I was five years old. I was taught to respect and revere my elders and most certainly those who served in any capacity of ministry. In my mind, it was never a question of whether being Gay was a sin, to me it was the Gospel truth, after all, these were men and women anointed by God (so I thought) who proclaimed the true Gospel to me. They couldn't possibly be wrong because without question, I was confident that they knew the will, mind, purpose and complete plan of God for my life. Moreover, who was I to ever question them or the authority of the written Word!


Like thousands of teenagers in church, I often contemplated suicide because I felt trapped in that dilemma, a condition that I could not resolve nor escape no matter how hard I fasted, prayed, promised not to backslide, and no matter how many times the elders tried to cast gay demons out of me. Imagine, sitting in church for years, surrounded by hundreds of people (lonely and feeling rejected) hearing sermon after sermon, hating who I was and what I was, on the brink of suicide and a nervous breakdown. I was convinced that God detested the most important part of who I was and I felt trapped in a condition not of my own doing and hell-bound.


Now, here is the good news! Something happened to me, even in the midst of all this madness, I took the preacher at his word and developed a personal relationship with God. Now this presented a huge problem because the Creator that I came to know intimately, never condemned me for being gay and to my recollection, never even made a big deal out of it. This was quite a contrast to what I was hearing over the pulpit. When I felt rejected, He bathed me in the warmth of His love! When I was tempted to give up and end my life, He convinced me that I had everything to live for and assured me that He had a marvelous plan for my life!


In 2001, when I was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS, He never abandoned me, even when others said that my affliction was most certainly the result of my rebellious lifestyle and was without question, the wrath of God in full manifestation in my life! While I must confess to making some bad decisions while in my early 20's and 30's (that exposed me to the HIV virus), there are consequences that we ALL must face as a result of bad choices. God made one thing crystal clear to me: He loves me, wanted me well and wanted me to make choices that would not put me or anyone at risk of contracting any type of disease. This is the message that I pass on to everyone each time I have the opportunity to share my story. I tell people that the fact AIDS exists is no one individual's fault, but it is our fault, if we don't act responsibly and protect ourselves and individuals with whom we are intimate. The love of God abounds and is evident in the beauty of Creation and in His expression of abundance of rich blessings conferred on humanity daily.


Now please don't freak out on me because I am talking a little bit about religion or because I may use some religious terminology. You must understand that many of the reasons, as to why people believe being gay is wrong is primarily induced by Biblical views. And if I am to shine the light of truth upon the subject, I must from time to time refer to concepts that pertain to religion. Additionally, it is important to note that focusing on religion is critical to mobilizing change!


If you don't gain anything else from reading this blog, please understand this one fact: Know emphatically that God loves every person on this planet! Or as the old folks use to say, "Know that you know, that you know, that you know, God loves you!" And there is no length to which He will go to demonstrate His great love and everlasting kindness. What He wants from us first, is NEVER to allow anyone to separate us from His love; especially when His Divine unconditionally loving nature is being intentionally or unintentionally misrepresented because of people's phobias. Don't miss out on His wise direction, insight, abundance, and prosperity because some misguided soul misunderstands and misinterprets His Word! Don't miss out on the joyful celebration that can be found in life because everything in the world was created for our enjoyment and benefit.


Through my personal relationship with God, I learned how imperative it is to love myself and to rid myself of the burdensome mental and emotional baggage that I acquired over the years while attending houses of worship, where scripture was not properly interpreted and/or articulated in love. I found out that I was not infected with the AIDS virus because God hated me or hated who I was. But that I had merely simply placed myself at risk as a result of a behavior that was not safe for me or anyone else -- something I feel was also the manifestation of personal self-hatred and self-rejection.


You should know that the immune system is constantly eavesdropping on our internal dialog (in others words, what we think). Noted physicians and psychologists who specialize in the field of psychoneuroimmunology strongly believe that the immune system is constantly responding to the pictures, sounds, feelings, smells, tastes, and the internal dialog that we hold in our mind. Unfortunately, if these are negative thoughts (no matter what the cause), they can adversely affect our immune system, and this places individuals who have a high degree of self-hatred at risk of more easily contracting the virus, whose body's natural defense systems could have possibly protected them more adequately. Additionally, it places people already infected with the AIDS virus in greater jeopardy because their immune systems have already been compromised adversely by this life-threatening disease, putting them at greater risk of contracting other AIDS-related opportunistic infections.


Thus, we know that the AIDS virus is caused by infection with a virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). And that this virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood contact and UNPROTECTED SEX. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast- feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some, but not all of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.


Without a doubt, self-hatred could be viewed as the number one enemy to people battling this pandemic, because it further weakens the immune system, making infected persons more susceptible to diseases - and definitely AIDS (no pun intended) AND ABETS THE VIRUS! Since the unconscious mind (also known as the "body mind") is the controlling intelligence in the body, it is also the connection between the mind and the immune system. One of the major theories of PNI (Psychoneuroimmunology) and hypnosis is that the unconscious mind can communicate with any part of the body at any time it so desires and can in this way stimulate the healing process. There is, in fact, profound substantial neurological evidence that supports this idea.


Every thought, every emotion, every desire, every internal representation you have is monitored, overheard and viewed. Your immune system is watching, listening, and feeling! It has been shown that grieving people often have grieving immune cells. If the grieving goes on for a prolonged period of time, then the immune system has also the self-talk of, "Leave me alone; I don't want to be bothered." Feelings of grief and self-hatred, according to noted physicians and psychologists, can cause people to be extremely susceptible to cancer and countless other infectious diseases. That is why it's so important to understand that negative emotions that are trapped in the body are not conducive to health and why there is a need to release all of a person's negative emotions within a healing process. It is imperative that individuals battling any life-threatening illness do all they can to eliminate all self-hatred from their lives so that they can regain wholeness and return to optimum health.


Tell yourself every day: "I came into the world divinely supplied. When I arrived on the planet, I brought with me wealth in the form of talents and mind powers. I am here to find my true place in life and to give my talents to the world. I am here to expand and unfold in a wonderful way, according to my God-given potential, and to bring forth spiritual, mental and material riches which will bless humanity in countless ways. That is why I affirm that God is flowing through me as health, peace, harmony and abundance."


This affirmation, if said daily, will usher in SELF-CONFIDENCE, LOVE, SUCCESS and ABUNDANCE into your life in ways you never dreamed if you dare to affirm it out loud each day.


CHECK OUT ANGEL MASON'S DYNAMIC VIDEO PRESENTATION
Click here to see my interview with Real Health Editor Kate Ferguson on why the black church must break the silence that contributes to HIV stigma.


AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:


Bishop Mason's (Gospel Podcast Link) The Living Word
http://alovesong.podomatic.com/

 
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Wednesday 4/6/2011  
US DEMANDING GAY RIGHTS SUPPORT AT UN BODY

The U.S. Demanding Gay Rights Support at UN Body


By Angel Mason, Global Author 

(But first we've got to get our own house in order!)




According to Newsmax.com, The Obama administration will introduce its first statement calling for the United Nations' top human rights body to combat discrimination against gays and lesbians around the world, implementing a U.S. reversal from years of ambiguity on the subject during the presidency of George W. Bush.


The U.S. declaration will be made Tuesday at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and has the support of more than 80 countries. Although it is not in the form of a binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year. The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance of homosexuality in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers and human rights activists say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment.


"We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Suzanne Nossel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations. "This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated." Again, I can only applaud the Obama administration for championing equal rights for all same-gender-loving people across the globe, especially in view of the recently proposed gay genocide in Uganda.


Just one year ago, on May 20, 2010 a gay couple in Malawi was sentenced by a judge to 14 years of hard labor, the maximum sentence, for committing what he felt were unnatural acts and gross indecency. The same judge found Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, guilty of the crimes earlier that same week. The couple was arrested last December for simply holding a traditional engagement ceremony; and they have remained in prison since then for doing so. Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa reportedly told the men he wanted to "protect" the public from them. "I will give you a scaring sentence," (he pompously and unmercifully proclaimed) "so that the public will be protected from people like you! And so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example!" The couple, with the help of local and international human rights groups, is expected to appeal, though up until now this has not yet been done. This would definitely be in the best interest of the defendants since their 14-year prison sentence will most likely result in their untimely demise at the hands violent and homophobic incarcerated murderers. The case has also drawn international condemnation of the aforementioned anti-homosexuality laws in Malawi, and been denounced by 65 members of the British Parliament who signed a motion condemning the prosecution. In addition, the international human rights group Amnesty International adopted the couple as prisoners of conscience.


Kato_web.jpgNot long after the imprisonment of the Malawi gay couple, David Kato, one of Uganda's most prominent gay rights activists was murdered in his home weeks after winning a court victory over a tabloid that called for homosexuals in Uganda to be killed. David Kato, the advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda, was bludgeoned to death in Mukono, Kampala. Along with other Ugandan gay activists, Kato had reported increased harassment since January 3rd, when a high court judge granted a permanent injunction against the Rolling Stone tabloid newspaper, preventing it from identifying homosexuals in its pages.


All of these horrific events are particularly troubling since many countries who supported Uganda and surrounding African nations monetarily are now withdrawing AIDS funding. This is crippling the country in terms of offering quality treatment to the millions of individuals suffering from the pandemic in those areas. AIDS-related stigma and discrimination directed at same gender-loving-people and people living with HIV and AIDS, results in being shunned by family, peers and the wider community; discouraging those infected with the virus from seeking proper treatment because of the fear of being labeled gay and/or the possibility of eventually being killed because of it. It is a proven fact that poor treatment in healthcare and education results in an erosion of rights and psychological damage that often negatively affects the success of testing and treatment.


Uganda and other surrounding countries inhumane acts of violence and overt discrimination directed at same-gender-loving people has blinded them to truth and compassion which subsequently has clouded their good judgment and sense of self-preservation. It now also threatens to undo 30 years of progress made against the spread of the virus. Already we are seeing signs of these repercussions, since thousands refuse to seek medical care, fearing that doctors, nurses and practitioners will disclose their sexual preference--something mandated by the Ugandan Legislation. The daunting reality is that now millions will die needlessly because of fear, ignorance and intolerance.


While it is easy to point a finger at other countries such as Uganda and condemn them for their monstrous acts against humanity, we must also realize that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Even though we pride ourselves on living in a democracy and we pompously declare to the world on frequent occasions that we are the ultimate example of a democratic country, we are also hypocrites! America has allowed bigots and religious extremists for years to enshrine in our own constitution countless laws that illegally deny same-gender-loving people equal rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (in almost every state). Many religious leaders and right-wing politicians justify their actions biblically and feel absolutely no remorse for their actions. Yes, it is commendable that we are leading the way in the international community in regards to proposing this resolution. Still, it is vital and imperative that we first remove the two-by-four from our own eye before we attempt to remove the splinter from our brother's eye!


After this resolution is proposed next Tuesday, our goal as a nation should be to immediately return to our own country (with the winds of equality and integrity at our backs) determined to uproot any and everything that is enshrined in our constitution, on any level of government, that denies any human being equal rights. It is an immutable law that it is far better to lead by example because we are practicing what we preach, than to shout from the rafters of hypocritical self-deception. We must put an end to demanding equality and fair treatment of all of people from the international community, while we ourselves are living in hypocrisy and even committing many of the same injustices! What we demand of them, we must demand more of--from ourselves. Then, and only then, will we become a true beacon of light, love and hope that others will be eager to follow!


Listen to Mason's inspiring audio message entitled:
UGANDA, UGANDA MY HEART WEEPS FOR YOU
by Terry Angel Mason, Global Author
WWW.TERRYANGELMASON.COM


FOLLOW THIS BEST SELLING AUTHOR ON TWITTER LINK: http://twitter.com/ALOVEBALLAD


CHECK OUT ANGEL MASON'S VIDEO PRESENTATION

 
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