The specious and self-serving logic aside, consider for a moment that this is a man who has been gay his whole life but felt compelled to live a lie and marry a woman then have children with her. Or to put it another way: if being gay isn’t all that bad why did Roy Ashburn feel it necessary to hide his gay-ness in the first place? Discrimination comes in many forms and the most obvious kinds are far from the most sinister.

Mr. Ashburn lied to himself, his wife, his kids and his constituents because society told him being gay was bad and unacceptable. Furthermore, this cognitive dissonance between his knowledge of his own sexuality and the political reality he found himself in seems to have caused him to vote against every single piece of pro-gay legislation that came up during his time in the state’s legislature. Something like that doesn’t happen because you live a life free of discrimination, it happens because you are so repressed and psychologically torn that you go to the extremes to make yourself feel better.

Sadly, Roy Ashburn’s case is far from the most dire when it comes to people who are dealing with their sexuality in a society that deems anything that doesn’t involve one man, one woman and the desire to procreate as an immoral abomination. Gay teenager’s are way more likely than their straight peers to suffer from depression, bullying or to attempt suicide. Not to mention homelessness rates or the emotional, psychological and physical abuses they suffer from parents who want to ‘cure’ them.

So while I appreciate Mr. Bailey’s attempt to frame the fact that the this installment in the Republican’s Most Ardent Anti-Gay Supporters Come Out saga is really bad for gay people cause it proves that gay people can in fact succeed, let’s be honest: heterosexism and homophobia are still very much rampant in our society and one closet case’s success in Republican politics doesn’t make that all go away.

In a move that indicates how out of touch with the entertainment industry the Florida Republican majority in the state legislature is, a provision to deny tax credits to any film or television production that contains gay characters was slipped into a 75 million dollar incentive bill.  Supposedly, the bill is designed to encourage film and television production in Florida.  The author of the provision apparently does not have a clue about Hollywood.  (The California Hollywood.  I’m not sure how the Florida Hollywood rolls)

In the words of the provision’s author, “Think of it as like Mayberry,” state Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, said, referring to The Andy Griffith Show. “That’s when I grew up — the ’60s. That’s what life was like. I want Florida to be known for making those kinds of movies: Disney movies for kids and all that stuff. Like it used to be, you know?”

Check out stories at AMERICA blog GAY, Google, and the Palm Beach Post.

Cross posted at QueerVisalia.com and QueerLongBeach.com

Please send us a message, or make a comment, about the details for Bakersfield Pride 2010.  We’d like to put it on our calendar page, and promote it on our other California sites.

Also, we’re always interested in adding bloggers to our site, so if you’re interested, please contact us here at Queer Networks!

-Jim-

At least if you’re Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield.

Photo: Sacramento County Sheriff Dept/CBS

Another Republican hypocrite stumbles out of his closet…

CBS13’s report.

Roy Ashburn (R) of Bakersfield was arrested Wednesday morning for drunk driving.  Well, that’s pretty routine for the family values crowd.  They do love their booze.
The really interesting thing is the state Senator was pulled over after leaving Faces, a gay bar in Sacramento.  There was an unidentified male passenger, who was described only as “not identified as a lawmaker” in the Chevy Tahoe (way to go green, Roy) with Ashburn.  Reliably anti-gay in his Senate votes, Ashburn appears to be another “do as I say, not as I do” Republican.

You have the right to remain silent, Senator.  Too bad you didn’t take advantage of that a long time ago!
“click click”

Cross posted at QueerVisalia and JimmieJoe.

PFLAG MEETING NOTICE FOR MARCH 4TH AT 7:OO P.M.

Location: the First Congregational Church, 5 Real Rd. in Bakersfield (corner of Stockdale Hwy.and Real Rd– only glass door on the north side of the church).

Of course, we will have our support group discussion where everyone is free to share, ask questions, listen, learn, give or receive support, and hopefully gain greater understanding about their gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) loved ones and/or themselves.

This month we plan to show a short video entitled LOVE IN ACTION—PFLAG’S 15thAnniversary Retrospective.  It describes the early history of PFLAG and some of the events that its members have been involved with over these many years and how members as individuals and also collectively can have strong positive influence on each other and society.  It begins with one involved and caring mother of a gay son who marches with her son Mortie in a New York Gay Pride Parade.

A discussion will follow regarding how PFLAG can help NOW–locally, state-wide and nationally.  Please come with ideas to discuss.  Together we influence changes that can benefit LGBTQ persons and their loved ones as well as society in general.

So, please consider attending this meeting and/or inviting others who you feel may benefit.

Via

Addressing how the military leadership, led by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, could now favor a repeal of the law, Santorum raised the specter of brainwashing.

“Political correctness is reigning in the military right now,” he said. “”Some people say: [Do] whatever the generals say [on DADT]. I’m not too sure that we haven’t so indoctrinated the officer corps in this country that they can actually see straight to make the right decision.”

Oh and did I mention that Mr. Santorum has been visiting early primary states recently? I’m almost secretly hoping he does run – watching him and Sarah Palin have a battle of wits would be epic!

May 22, 2010

Visalia

Stay tuned!

Hi friends -

Many of you know me as a straight ally for SSM rights. Now I have something fun to share, and I hope you can help me if these activities look fun to you, or to help me get them to someone who might be who I am looking for.

I am working as a producer for a short film being made in the Porterville area in late March.

I need extras and crew helpers (aka “PAs – Production Assistants”) to help.

The casting notice is online at http://visalia.craigslist.org/tlg/1584259673.html and is copied in this email below.

As many as 15-20 extras are need, ages 15 and up.

There is information about the PA positions online at http://visalia.craigslist.org/cwg/1584610422.html

I can  probably use at least 5 PAs per day during the entire period, and you need not be available every day, so don’t be shy.

You can  read about the film and director at http://mikethefilmmaker.com/garden/

Please pass this all along to other lists that might be helpful. I have been told that there is a Tulare LGBTQ list (which I am not on) that might be especially helpful.

Thanks in advance,

Barry Caplan
PortervilleProducer@gmail.com