My Gayest Look, or, Leno's a Loser. Also, I AM NOW DR KEITH

Well the fun never stops, does it?

Leno on March 20 had Ryan Philippe on. Ryan had played a gay soap opera character, and Leno couldn't resist egging him to give the camera his "gayest" look.

Cuz that's funny. Apparently to J.

So fast-forward to Jeff Whitty of Avenue Q fame who wrote Jay a letter and included an image of him giving Jay his gayest look.

(Brief recap here: Jeff wrote to Leno back in 2006 about J's gay "humor" and it ended up all over the news.)

Melissa McEwan picked it up and she told some friends, who told some friends, who told some friends....

I've sent in mine, plus a link to those photos of Indy Pride 2006 of the "clergy" with the murderous signs on his pickup. June 2006 in the Archives <------- over there if you don't remember what I'm talking about.



In other news, I have passed my defense and am a Doctor of Music.

Would you like fries with that?

laters,
Dr K

... Oklahoma: NOT OK

So here's the letter I wrote to Rep. Sally Kern. In case you've been under a rock, she was recorded saying that gays are a worse threat than terrorism.



Dear Representative Kern,

Thank you for articulating what many Americans are afraid to say out loud. If there were more people like you we could perhaps have an open dialog about homosexuality.

As a happily partnered gay man, I applaud your vociferous and astonishingly candid speech which is now making news. If we as a society recognize that our elected officials have such strongly anti-gay views, we can perhaps begin to see that things have gone too far and that we can begin to heal as a nation.

When young people hear speeches like yours they learn that it is ok to have negative attitudes about gays. Please read about the tragic murder of Lawrence King, a 15 year old who had his brains blown out by a classmate because he was thought to be gay. http://lifewithkeith.blogspot.com/

You have every right to believe the things you said in your speech. But please keep in mind that as a community leader, your words can have profound impact on young minds. Clearly you do not endorse the murder of people who are thought to be gay. But young minds are fickle, and the words and deeds of people with your power are highly influential. Please keep that in mind before you say things like "gays are worse than terrorists".

with utmost respect,
Keith Collins



I didn't go into trying to convince her that her arguments are exceedingly faulty, illogical, and untrue; I know that would be fruitless. But I hope she'll at least see that when someone with her power and status says things like she said, it gives a small segment of society the sense that violence against gays is not only ok, but necessary for the good of the country. The logic might go something like: "Terrorism is bad, we go after terrorists; gays are worse, we'll go after them, too." And the violence continues.

I don't expect a response, but at least I feel like I tried a little. Alarmingly, she really believes that what she said is the truth. Equally alarming are the death threats she's received. Come on people, let's treat her like we want to be treated!

Happily, the governor of OK has made the admonishment to "cool the rhetoric". I like that.

If you're as astonished at her remarks as I am, consider writing to her at sallykern@okhouse.gov.

~kc

De profundis

OUTRAGE

How is that this can happen, here, now?

How is it possible that there has not been more of an outcry about the murder of Lawrence King? Or Simmie Williams?

Lawrence was an 8th grader and was shot in the head during class at a school in California. His accused murderer is a 14 year old classmate. Lawrence is dead, and his accused murderer will, if convicted, go to jail for the rest of his life.

Because Lawrence asked him to be his Valentine.

Because Lawrence was gay.

Because Lawrence wore makeup and heels to school sometimes.

And so a 14 year-old boy got the message from our society OUR SOCIETY that it's ok to take a handgun to school and blow the brains out of a gay kid.



CONDEMNATION

Shame on all of us.

Shame on our elected officials who drag their heels in passing equal rights and hate-crimes legislation.

Shame on voters for putting those elected officials in office in the first place.

Shame on our churches for not following Christ's message of love for your brother, neighbor, son, daughter, fellow human being. For if our children hear in church that "God hates fags", surely those same children will grow to believe that they, too, "hate fags".

Shame on our schools and their boards for not being more aggressive in anti-bullying policies, for censoring books with gay-affirming topics, and for prohibiting gay and gay-straight alliances.

Shame on parents for not teaching their children, our children, that all of us every one deserve respect, and to be treated with dignity.

Shame on those groups who, in the name of Christ, seek to thwart in our schools programs that teach not just tolerance but acceptance.

Shame on the media for being so blinded by the political process that they barely spared room for these tragedies.






And shame on me for not being man enough to stand up more, to love more, to speak up more, to insist more, to converse more, to be myself more.






RESOLUTION

There's much talk about Change lately. Can it really happen?

ENDA, spousal rights, marriage, civil unions, DADT repeal?


For the love of All That Is And Will Be, VOTE!
Sign a petition.
Talk to each other.
Love each other.
Engage each other with real dialogue.


Then maybe, just maybe, all the killing, all the suicides, all the crying and weeping and sadness won't have been in vain.

What will you do?


peace to all,
Keith