Over the years I've received countless requests for travel information, for LGBT places and events, for advice on bringing a foreign-based lover into the States, for counseling about troubled relationships, for unloading another coming-out story, for expressing painful situations as well as messages of appreciation for GlobalGayz. I answer each e-mail.
Often the requests and replies are relevant to more than one person so this blog is a way of expanding these comments to more people in the etherland of the Internet-- like the wonderland of Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forums (LGBT forum there is: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=35)
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This post is in response to an action taken by artist Charles Merrill in protest of anti-gay religions. His message appeared in the New York Blade gay newspaper August 3, 2007:
http://nyblade.com/2007/8-3/viewpoint/opinion/koran.cfm
Charles Merrill fortunately does not stand alone in his anguished protest against official persecution of LGBT citizens. His focus is aimed at religion-based bigotry in the MIddleEast and the irrationality of ancient alleged words of a 'force' called Allah. If only societies could be free of such spiritual violence and slander against gays--so we wish. But as I write this, in another far distant part of the world, a non-religious, secular-based government is following much the same line of harsh discrimination against its gay community. The prosperous, highly organized, clean, efficiently run city-state of Singapore is busily getting hysterical about a gay conference (not a parade or festival) held mostly indoors in several venues throughout the city. In a knee-jerk reaction it banned a gay-themed non-erotic photo exhibit and prohibited a lecture by a respected expert on international law and human sexuality. Yesterday the officials banned a picnic and sports event scheduled at the city's public open-to-all Botanical Gardens by the gay organization People LIke Us. The week's activities were planned as part of a gay celebration called IndigNation--a name designed to protest the government's banning, last year, of the highly popular international dance party 'Nation' (even though it was never billed as a gay event; the party, sponsored by Singapore-based gay magazine Fridae.com, was moved to Phuket, Thailand and held with much success in 2006 and 2007.) The point is obvious: it doesn't take a religion to create homophobia. There is a larger ominous force that threatens civilized progress: a commitment to ignorance and bigotry based in history and mystery--fear of divine retribution, fear of other tribes, a fear of differences and fear of human sexual desire. Enough! Thanks to the worldwide gay community of activists and martyrs, organizations and protests we are standing against so much of this blindness. Al-Quaeda is not the only danger. Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.com
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