How Much Public Affection Is Too Much?

A few days ago, Leisha Hailey, who stars in the American cable TV network Showtime's drama "The L Word", was thrown off a Southwest Airlines flight for kissing her unidentified girlfriend.

Lesbian Actress Removed From Southwest Airlines Flight

"L Word" Star Booted From Flight After Kiss

This made me think about a couple of things.  First, as a frequent air traveler, I can't begin to describe the unseemly activities in which I have seen fellow fliers engage on airliners.  Among other (ahem) "interesting" things, I have seen couples engaging in deep kissing, performing mysterious acts under blankets, and going into lavatories together. 

My question to you, dear readers, is two fold.  Item the first:  How much public affection do you think is too much, be it on a plane, a train, or a public place?  Item the second:  Do you think the fact that Ms. Hailey was being affectionate with a same sex partner played into her fellow passengers, and possibly Southwest Airlines, negative reaction to their kissing?  Did Ms. Hailey's reaction to the complaint exacerbate the situation?

My opinions, and they are just that---MY opinions, are that anything beyond handholding, some low key cuddling, and an occasional peck on the lips is unacceptable on an airplane.  These are closed places.  It isn't like a public park where others can merely pass by the behavior.  I really feel like behavior more intimate than this needs to be kept in the privacy of a hotel room or a home.  If folks can't control their urges for the duration of a flight, perhaps they should have stayed home.

As far as the reaction being more negative because this was a same sex couple, I would really like to think that in 21st Century America, we are used to seeing two women kiss, two men hold hands, etc., but I have my doubts that all of society shares my view on this.  (On a related note, I should like to state that the opinion in the paragraph above applies to opposite sex and same sex couples.)  Still, can we not allow same sex couples to tastefully display affection for each other in public places? 

I can also understand why Ms. Hailey would have reacted defensively to being singled out for her behavior, but doesn't becoming aggressive or confrontational only make the problem worse and set the case of gay equality back instead of moving it forward?

I should very much like to know your thoughts and opinions, friends.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Gay Teen Provoked His Own Murder????

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand why well known anti-gay activist, Randy Thomasson of Save California, recently suggested that a teenage homosexual, who was murdered by a classmate, provoked his own killing.  No, I am not making this up.  I wish I were, but I am not.

First, some background on the case, fifteen year old, Lawrence "Larry" King was openly gay and also a cross dresser.  He was very flamboyant and thought nothing of chasing others boys around the school.  He relished the attention that his being out and his appearance brought him.  After making his interest in another boy obvious and public, the other boy shot King in the head twice in a computer lab at the school.  King died from brain injuries two days later.

Folks, there is a lot going on with this story, both positive and negative.  A young man being brave enough to be who he is.  Some teachers and students who support King.  An assistant principal who may have used King to advance her own agenda.  Many, many students who bullied and harassed King.  A city where the gay community is almost non-existent.  The fact that King was very provocative and sexually suggestive with his male classmates.  The behavior of a lot of people involved in this case is questionable.

Young, Gay, and Murdered

That being established, however.................................

Does any of King's behavior justify his being gunned down in cold blood by another middle schooler?  Seriously, ladies and gentlemen, think about this.  Even if King were parading himself about in front of his killer while telling the young man "You know you want me", does that justify cold blooded murder? 

Thomasson certainly seems to think so.

Gay Teen Brought On His Own Murder

The audio clip in the above link is beyond repugnant.  The killer was being "harassed", so it is understandable that he would pump a couple of bullets into King's brain.  "Bad teachers" supported King to promote the "homosexual agenda".  (On a side note, I have been asking for years what the "homosexual agenda" is, but I have yet to receive an answer that wasn't an illogical homophobic rant.)  Allowing King to dress in female clothing caused "sexual tension".  Allowing students to express themselves through their dress is "social engineering".  Anti-bullying statues that include gays are "indoctrination".

This "gentleman" (and I use the term VERY loosely) is reprehensible.  His anti-gay bigotry is sickening.  His attempt to justify murder is stomach churning.

The killer in this case also had some serious mitigating circumstances in his life.  These must be considered in court, but to suggest that King's homosexuality, cross dressing, and behavior legitimize his murder is abominable!

Quite frankly, friends, I would like to see this fanatic be forced to sit and listen to first hand accounts from gays and lesbians about the bigotry and prejudicial treatment that they endure on a day to day, hour to hour, basis.  Maybe then, he could remove his cranium from his anus and realize that homophobia is criminal and that gays deserve the same rights, respect, and dignity as everyone else.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Are Young White Supremacists On The Rise?

Friends, I recently attended a music festival, and I was utterly appalled by something I observed.  I was flabbergasted by the number of young men who were wearing T-shirts with "White Power" and other racially charged slogans on them.  I was equally dismayed by the number of people who had swastika tattoos.  It was incredible, and not in a good way.

This led me to a couple of questions.  The first of which is are young white supremacists on the rise?  I wrote a column a few months ago about the rise in racist groups, especially after President Obama's election.  Might this have been first hand evidence of the increase is these kinds of groups?  I have to say that I was quite disturbed by this.  As is often discussed in this space, where did these young adults learn these obviously racist attitudes?  Why do we always think the next generation will be the one to finally understand that all people are equal, and why are we always proven wrong?  I ask one more time, dear readers, how do we finally put a stop to racism and bigotry?

Another thing I wondered was if those who had swastika tattoos actually have a true grasp of the unbridled evil that the Nazis unleashed on the world under the swastika flag?  Is this something that has been somewhat lost as history has progressed?  Why would anyone want to identify with a group that butchered over six million innocent people?  Do they really understand what they are identifying with and promoting?  Quite honestly, folks, it was bone chilling.

This is America.  We have a right to free speech and freedom of expression, even when it is patently offensive.  These folks have the right to put anything they want on their bodies or their clothing.  The deeper issue here is how to prevent racism and prejudice from poisoning another generation of Americans. 

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Why Do Racism And Bigotry Persist?

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand why bigotry and racism persist in the world.  Are people born prejudiced?  Honestly, I don't think so.  A three year old child is going to want to be picked up and held by anyone, and I mean---ANYONE, regardless if their skin is the same color as the child's, regardless if their religion is the same as the child's, and regardless of the person's sexual orientation.  I have a really hard time accepting that people are born bigots.

I am more inclined to think that children learn bigoted behavior from their parents, or other adults around whom they spend time, and subsequently become bigots themselves.  Several years ago, I watched a documentary on PBS that was exploring the ongoing conflicts between Arabs and Jews.  An adult male asked a group of really young (less than ten years old) children where Jews were descended from.  Without missing a beat, the kids replied the Jews were the descendants of apes, pigs, and dogs.  So did these kids learn this from the adults in their lives, or were they born this way?  I see the same thing as Christians teach their children that Muslims are evil and as Muslims teach their children that Christians and Jews are apes, dogs, and infidels.

My dear old friend, Brad, shared some rather disturbing pictures (below) that were drawn by a child in Brad's children's school.

Now, are we to think that this child came up with these ideas on his own, or are we to believe that he was influenced by his parents or other adults in his life?  Again, we see this kind of thing so often.  A child calls a black man "coon" or "nigger" because he hears his father do the same.  A child calls a homosexual "fag" or "queer" because she hears her mother do the same.  The kids don't come up with these things on their own, folks.

So I guess my question is this.  Why does it continue?  Why do we as humans, generation after generation, teach our children to fear and hate those who are different from us?  For the record, I am NOT suggesting that EVERYONE teaches their children to think and behave in such an atrocious manner, but Lord knows bigotry is alive and well worldwide.  Why does this never seem to go by the wayside?

What can those of us who are not prejudiced do to prevent bigotry from spreading its vile self from generation to generation?  How can we stop this?  How can we make young people understand these attitudes and behaviors from their elders are not acceptable?  How much longer will this go on around the world?

When we will finally learn to accept that we are all human while celebrating our differences?

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.