Various Musings

On another forum I saw this video posted describing homosexual life in San Francisco in the 1950's and 60's. I do not remember any item in particular that I would have seen on TV in those days. It was not often discussed while I was at school, certainly not in the circles in which I moved.   However I remember it as a shock when I realised in my first year at university that my feelings had a name and people like me were an object either of ridicule or disgust.  For a good living Christian youth, who would never even think of breaking any other law, this brought feelings of shame and self loathing. Even psychologists told me I would be a risk as a school teacher, in danger of succumbing to my feelings. I now know that was ridiculous, no more danger than a young heterosexual teaching girls. Of course, one or two do succumb but the vast majority of us have far more self-control.

Thank God those days are over in most of society except in sections of the church. In the 60's I would never have believed that homosexuality would be legal and there would be openly gay bishops, judges and politicians. Or that gay marriage would even be on the political agenda.

However I acknowledge, without going into detail, that I have been damaged by the experience. I do not want young gay people today to feel that they are disgusting and alien to their society. Shame on those church leaders who perpetuate this crime. To say that homosexuality is a choice is just so wrong as to be laughable. Like so many I did everything possible to change and that just led to greater misery.

However, after viewing this video and feeling a bit depressed, I visited The Soaring Impulse and listened to Maithri



I admire him so much but feel guilty that I do so little. I sent some money but really it is less than the cost of one night in a hotel on the journey I am planning.
Perhaps some others can help by visiting Possible Dreams International.

Email hoaxes

I have just received an email from a dear friend with whom I use to work. It is not the first time a concerned, loving but naive friend had sent me one of those emails about some poor child (graphic photos) suffering some disease with the message that AOL or some other company will donate 15 - 32 cents for each email forwarded.
They make me see red and I look up Snopes to prove they are false.
I hate telling my dear friends they have been hoaxed but feel such messages must be stopped where possible.
Having sent the message to her, I then found Maithri's latest post about a little girl, Zama, who has suffered terrible physical and emotional injuries in Swaziland and the way he has been able to help. I sent the link to my friend saying this was real and hopefully she would pass that on. Maithri and all those like him are true candidates for sainthood. Hopefully people may send him or other real charities a few dollars rather than clog the intertubes with useless emails.
My favourite is Medecins Sans Frontieres.