BET not a friend of gays?

UPDATED 2/18/10: It is a shame that BET never felt the need to even attempt a response, whether negative or positive. BUT, I am very please that thanks to Twitter I was able to personally express my disappointment to Anthony. I was truly appreciative to receive a response. Actually, I simply posted a public tweet mentioning him. What I really took as a sign of respect is his direct message back, instead of a public reply on his twitter page. This came across as a sincere apology instead of simply an attempt to save face. This is why I felt the need to update my blog and return that respect.

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BET recently premiered a show called "Brothers to Brutha" which centers around 5 young brothers and their singing group. On this weeks episode the youngest brother, Anthony, made a comment about one of his older brothers, Grady, dancing like a homosexual. Grady, out of anger then assaulted Anthony. This angered me in two ways; the fact that "homosexual" was used as a derogatory term, and that it was received as such a horrible label that one would attack his own brother. This angered me enough to log into BET's website to post a comment about this. However, I was confronted with a survey pertaining to this exact issue. But, instead of BET questioning the usage of this word, they asked if Anthony should have guestioned Grady's manhood. Basically inferring being gay somehow negates being a man. I no longer felt commenting on that site would be effective since BET obviously views gays in a negative way and would pay no attention to our concerns. This worries me since the group, and the show, is meant to appeal to younger viewers and this is not the example we need to set for them. We are already trying to stop the usage of the phrase "that is so gay" and this politically correct version is more offensive since it is a pointed and deliberate attempt to avoid any confusion over the intended offense. We, as a nation, are finally making huge strides forward to eliminate the years of prejudices already in place. This is being done in large part to a younger, more diverse, population that does not view homosexuality as wrong, or not being normal. Having a media outlet with such trendsetting capabilities like BET allow, and promote, such hatred is unacceptable and we must do something to let BET know will will not allow them to promote hatred.

Proposition 8

If you are tired of hearing, and reading, about Prop 8, you are probably straight. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I, however, am not, and I am very frustrated that some many people are attempting to deny my rights. I have no immediate plans to marry, but one day I would love to be married. Or, in the least, have that option. To be clear on what this right means to me, I simply want to live free of discrimination. Regardless of you opinion, I am American, I vote, I pay taxes, I deserve to be treated equally.

For those who wish to quote bible verses and condemn me to hell, I am Christian. I am not going to hell because you say I am. Only God can make this decision. Why so many Christians believe they know my relationship with God better than I do is very disturbing. I was raised in a very strict, and extreme, religious home. I was taught I would go to hell for what was then a very secretive and unsure "difference". I had no idea what the word gay meant, but I knew I felt for other boys the same way those boys felt for girls. And I knew this was wrong, according to my parents. It was not until many years after I had moved out of my parents' house that I finally realized how absurdly wrong that was. After I developed my own relationship with God I found out He does not hate gays, but the contrary. This was after over a decade of attempting to be straight. This was after daily prayers to rid me of my gay demons. This was after I finally gave in an realized God didn't want me to change. He created me to be this way and to change it would be to live a lie. To continue the unhappy existence I had always known. I'm sure I'll come back to this topic some other time, but this is a basic preemptive response to those who believe I am a sinner. Believe if you must, but please keep you life right so you can one day see how wrong you are if you make it to Heaven also.

For now, this will have to suffice as far as my blog is concerned. I must now get ready for bed. I need plenty of sleep to combat ignorance during the day. Turning the other cheek can take a lot of energy.