Speak out
LGBT Americans have had one of the most prosperous four years in recent memory. I thank and credit President Obama for that.
To those who know me, it will come as no surprise that I will vote for Gov. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in the Nov. 6 general election. Since 1972, I have consistently voted for the Republican candidate for president, although the remainder of my ballot is almost always split to support whom I consider to be the best candidate.
Vote! It’s vital in every election if our republic is to function as it was intended. But do more – join me by giving cash and/or time. Don’t simply sit back and leave your civil rights up to others. I am one who truly believes in action, not reflection. Much comes from simply showing up.
Fourteen years ago this week, his father, brother and I were at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins with our first-born son, Matthew Shepard. He was 21, and dying. Just days before, he had been just like millions of American college students whose names are not known to the world – getting the hang of his new classes, adapting to a new campus, making friends.
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. DAD was first signed into law by President Clinton in 1993. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network estimated that over the period of 18 years, 14,500 military personnel were discharged because of their sexual orientation. The SLDN also reported the Pentagon spent more than $363 million dollars implementing DADT.
We arrived to the movie with about 45 minutes to spare so we could get good seats, but there were plenty with the same idea, and we walked, hands full of popcorn and snacks, into a packed theater. After scoping out Theater 9, we realized the only row with six open seats available was third from the front.
When I moved to Colorado two years ago, I sought opportunities that I couldn’t find in the South. Being raised in Georgia, I found it difficult to find an identity. After I graduated from college in 2009, I was unable to secure gainful employment. I moved to Colorado, thinking a change in environment would do me good.
Remember, I am so old that I can remember when we snuck into the three gay bars in Denver. Back then we would never have thought of a PrideFest attended by 300,000; much less likely than going to the moon.
