Truth Beyond Her Belief

Around 1:30am, Mom called me to see a tv program she was watching. A woman on it was irritating her. The woman was staying a month with two gay men who had children. She is a Christian. They are Christians. I was at the keyboard typing something else and the following was just there.

she couldn't see truth beyond her belief
she made two gay men cry

she couldn't stand that the home
headed by two gay men with children
was similar to her own
she couldn't see truth beyond her belief

she was offended that they were offended (the gays)
she thought only what she believed was right
she didn't want two women who loved each other
to have the right to marry each other
because it was too much like her life
she couldn't see truth beyond her belief

she couldn't stand that the family
headed by two gay men believed in God and went to church
she couldn't see truth beyond her belief

she hugged the boys good-bye
but didn't touch the dads
she made two men cry
she couldn't see truth beyond her belief..................................(c)Salty2009

Parents + Kids = Family

Alex, the wife of Wanda Sykes gave birth to twins, a girl & boy. Two babies were born healthy but not everyone is pleased. As usual, those who have so much hate/evilness in their stone hearts use this joyful event as an opportunity to take weak punches at the homosexual community. (read stupid comments here)

Exactly how does two women living together as lovers and raising their children become a threat to heterosexual families and marriage?

Heterosexuals who feel threatened don't explain why they feel threatened.
There are more sexualities than heterosexuality so why continue to pretend that there is only one and the rest is perversion.

The only excuse religious factions and heterosexuals who oppose homosexuality use to verbally and physically abuse people who don't conform to their sexual rules is that GOD doesn't approve. The truth is that man doesn't approve because when a homosexual's life is equal to a heterosexual life then the hetero has to question why someone who is biblically an abomination is doing as well or better than they are.

I can prove that I exist but not one person on this planet who oppose my life, can prove their GOD exist. Yet, I am suppose to restrict my life and be unhappy just so other people can believe in their GOD. If my life causes such disruption of a heterosexual's faith, then how strong was that faith to begin with?

I'm trying to be logical about what could be the real problem that some heterosexuals have with homosexuality. Is the heterosexual population shrinking leaving them with fewer heterosexuals to date and marry? I suppose they would rather be married to a homosexual person than not have anyone. Whereas I would rather be alone than ...

There doesn't seem to be a shortage of people, so if you can't find someone where you live, then go to places that have mostly heterosexuals and find a spouse. Heck, Madonna went to Africa because there doesn't seem to be enough kids in America to adopt.

If you are heterosexual and married to a homosexual and the marriage crumbles, then blame society for saying people should marry someone of the opposite gender but they don't have to love you just have sex with you as their marrital duties. Why blame homosexuals, we don't all marry the opposite gender. And why blame homosexuals who do marry heterosexuals because after all, society said it was the right thing to do.

If society stopped making life so hard for homosexuals, then heterosexuals wouldn't be spending so much of their life married to someone who doesn't really want them. That is not a problem I caused in your life -- that was instigated by heterosexual society.

Do you really think your wife will leave you if it became legal all over America for two women to marry each other? Do you think that if it became a legal for people to marry the same gender then more people will marry like it is a business and get the financial benefits that go with a legal joining?

Well heck (I'm trying to stop cussing), opposite gender couples are doing it so why not same gender couples. If marriage between opposite gender couples are going to continue to be formed like a business agreement, then it is just more discrimination that I can't marry someone of the same gender for financial benefits.

If heterosexuals still maintain that heterosexual coupling is about making babies and homosexual couples is about sex and neither has to do with the heart then what the FUCK does it matter if the couple have the same genitals. We are so scientifically advanced that a baby can be made in a test tube, so it is time to get pass the idea that a family consist of a man and woman who made a baby through copulation.

Arranged marriages is a business because daddy or mommy gets money or cattle when they marry their daughter off to a man. If a man can marry as many women as he wants and can kick them out or kill them, if he wants, then it is a business deal. An unfair deal but men set the rules about everything. (Except I don't let men dicktate to me. HA! couldn't resist that).

Traditional marriage seems to have little or nothing at all to do with love and passion so perhaps it is simply that many heterosexuals are marrying without really loving and desiring their spouses and they can't stand the thought that homosexuals are willing to risk our lives and have family turn against us to be who we are and be with who we want to really be with.

Since marriage DOES involve a legal contract that automatically makes it a business deal and in AMERICA, I am entitled to that legal document.

I have no problem with heterosexuals saying I choose to be homosexual because they are right. I choose to be a homosexual and not pretend to be heterosexual. Now what? Heterosexuals play with words that too many times just doesn't make since. I choose to share my body with a woman that I can feel. I choose not to share my body with a man that I CANNOT feel.

If male egos are so fragile that they take it personally that Salty doesn't want them sexually -- too bad.

(And right here a hetero-male will say -- well I don't want you anyway -- I don't know you. And you're probably an ugly lesbian anyway. And I would reply -- EXACTLY. If you don't know me then why do you care who I marry. If you know me and want me but can't have me -- oh well get over it. Stop being vindictive. Obviously, we don't always get who we want -- that's life.)

The woman who came up to my work floor looking for her man because someone told her that he had his arm around a women's shoulder was probably glad that it was me, THE LEZBIAN, who didn't want her man SEXUALLY.

CONGRATUALTIONS ALEX & WANDA on the birth of your twins.

God's Love For Me

Earth is where I dwell, it's heaven and hell. I see God's disciples and the devils spawn in darkest night and breaking dawn. God's true disciples have invisible halos but the devils spawn speak with forked tongues. Listen closely to the rhetoric, words are historic, passed down generations for manipulation to eventual mutilation. Those who believe the lies forgot Jesus said beware of false prophets. Well you can believe whatever book, but you should take a second read/look to make absolutely certain that what you proclaim is truth for there will be no one to blaim, but you, for continuing to pass untruths to generations. I believe what I want and you do the same, stay out of my face, while you spout hate words that disgrace God's name. God will deal with you and He will deal with me, just knowing that truth has set me free. You are not my jailer or my God -- I never gave you that key. Your hatred is blocked by God's love for me. ........(c)Salty2009

If Jesus was walking the planet now, there would be those plotting his death and doing it while saying Jesus broke Biblical law.

Matthew 5:11/blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

NOTE: After reading that California judges will probably uphold the Prop 8 ban on marriage for same-gender couples, I wrote and wrote and then the above just came and so this is my response to that ruling from the west coast.

A Minister Speaks Out

Many people don't like Reverend Al Sharpton but take the time to click the link below and read what he said about gays having the Constitutional Right to marry.

Sharpton: Church uses money and power to persecute gays but ...
PageOneQ.com - Jan 13, 2009
"Whatever my personal feelings may be about gay and lesbian marriages, unless you are prepared to say gays and lesbians are not human beings, they should have the same constitutional right of any other human being."

Last Thoughts for 2008

It's the last day of 2008 and I wanted to post one last thing about Gay marriage and Civil Rights. I've made 2 or 3 drafts, but finally decided to just post the following.

IT'S CRAP. When Rick Warren and others say they are against legal marriage for Gays because the word "marriage" has something to do with religion -- it's crap.

The KKK burning crosses, is not protested by religious institutions. No law has been inacted to say that it is illegal to use that religious symbol as a sign of hate and terrorism.

Religious institutions don't own the word "marriage" and Blacks don't own the phrase "Civil Rights".

IT'S CRAP. If marriage is a sacred word, then why are heterosexuals who don't believe in God allowed to get legally married? If marriage is a sacred word then why are heterosexual murderers allowed to get married? "Thou shall not kill" is a commandment from God, but homosexuality didn't make the list. Heterosexuals judged to have committed a crime against society have the right to legally marry, while homosexuals who pay taxes, and raise families don't have that legal right.

In America, homosexuality is not treated legally as a crime anymore, yet we have been found guilty of not conforming to religious doctrine, and denied our Civil Rights.

Melissa Etheridge should not be referred to as a traitor because she spoke to Rick Warren and walked away without attacking him. She meet him and heard for herself what he had to say. She reported what occurred between them.

If Warren has said the things I've read he said, then he has to worry about what God thinks about him. Many religious leaders preach rhetoric, and give their interpretation of scripture, and if people want to believe him, then they have to worry about what God says about them.

President-elect Obama chose who he wanted to speak at his inauguration. And for some to ask if he would have let a KKK member speak -- well that is just racist. If I was concerned enough, I would question would he have let a Satanist speak since the issue has more to do with religious beliefs.

Melissa has said that Gays felt like we were thrown under the bus because Clinton didn't do more to help Gays while he was in office. Now some question if Obama has thrown Gays under the bus by having Warren speak. Warren would not have been my choice but it's not my nauguration. I don't recall anyone blogging about Warren's rhetoric during and immediately after Prop 8. But now because it is a big deal, more people will watch the inauguration just to hear what Warren has to say. And while he is getting more publicity, so has the issue of Gay equality. I personally prefer to know the name and face of my opponent, then I'd know not to turn my back on him.

Obama can't please everyone no matter what he does.

I'm a lesbian, and so I understand the feelings of the LGBT community, but if we turn against everyone who doesn't support us the exact way we want, then we will have no allies. We at least have a President who is willing to talk about our issues.

I read a line today that Obama might be an Uncle Tom. Words like that coming from a caucasion, is laughable. Obama is too Black for some and now he might not be Black enough.

Excuse me people, but Clinton is one man. Obama is one man. The Presidential seat maybe the highest office in this country, but the President do not make the laws. They both have at least acknowledged that we exist and something needs to be done. Hopefully, when Obama takes
office, he and others will do what they can to have the Civil Rights Laws enforced.

It is not heterosexuals who need to change their opinions. It is our federal officials who need to enforce the laws of the Constitution of the United States of America. It is our federal officials who can reverse the bad decision to let individual States decide who can get legally married.

First off, remove the word marriage from legal documents and let all couples who want to legally join get Civil Union Licenses. Simply signing that document would automatically give the same privileges and
protections to couples/family.

Right now, American Law is in a recession just like our economy. To have a strong nation, we must have strong leaders who believe in Equal Rights for ALL citizens. Leaders who take the oath to uphold the law, must also fight for the law to be enforced, and change the law when it is not fair.

To be a nation representing freedom, citizens must be free. To deny any citizen more legal rights than another based on color, gender, religion, sexuality is just wrong. And of these four things, religion is the only one that people can actually choose.

Because federal officials recognized that it is wrong to tell consenting adults who we can share our bodies with sexually, homosexuality is no longer illegal. For adults to be denied legal joining unless we join with the opposite gender, is not freedom. It is our Human Right to pick our mate.

MELISSA on The View

If you were working this morning and didn't see Melissa Etheridge on The View, click the YouTube video URL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fLSJeVZ0LI

I don't watch The View, even Whoopie can't get me to tune in. But I set the cable box and even though I was sick in bed, I woke long enough to see it. One of the regulars, brought up the topic on Prop 8 and of course Our Warrior was ready to respond. But she was eventually cut off because she was there to promote her new album "A New Thought For Christmas". The one who had started the conversation said the people should decide what's right for the country. WOW! The heterosexual woman thinks people should vote on who can get legally married. (As long as there is no vote on her right to marry. And what the hell does she mean "what's right for the country"? American citizens being denied civil rights is definitely not good for the country. The View should let viewers vote on keeping her or telling her bye-bye.) She said, it's not a personal issue for her, and since it is not, why does she get to vote on something that doesn't affect her rights.

I had written more, but decided to not include it. Don't mind me, I'm just a Black lesbian woman. " I'll never be White. I'll never be heterosexual. I'll never be a man. So I'll never be equal.

I'm going back to bed now. When I wake and hopefully feel better, I know things in America will be the same. My body might feel better but not my mine.

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

.......................................(There should only be one flag.)

I read a blog by a celebs wife. She wrote a poem that says she doesn't want to be a super hero. She doesn't want to speak for the masses. And why should she have to. There are plenty of people who want to speak publicly but are not given the mike and tv camera. I know first hand how that works. When I tried to have a civil rights rally in my home town, the white media would not announce it or bring a mobile unit. Something was wrong with the mobile unit, so I was told by two different news stations. I was asked if a minister was involved. What, I am not qualified to speak? I have to wear a collar or have someone speak for me? When I tried to get a public park for the rally, I was told no but that it could be held in a church. And it's the same with the gay rights issue. I've seen very little news coverage about Prop 8. Last week, two or three women on tv had a discussion about the legalization of prostitution but where is the discussion about Prop 8 that denies American citizens our legal rights. Yes, once again I compare the gay issue to the Black issue -- inequality. The truth is not suppose to be told publicly -- so the ones with the power -- who owns the media -- controls how much information is given to the public -- to the country.

Why is it that American citizens have to take to the streets and demand equality and our federal officials sit back and do not respond. Our federal officials do nothing to protect the rights of America citizens. Are the American soldiers who are at war on foreign soil fighting to protect America for heterosexuals? There are gays in the American military who are putting their lives on the line for an America who do not think they should have equality. Gay American soldiers know about what is going on here. The ones who make it back to us alive will not have the right to legally marry who they love. Why does American history keep repeating itself? Black American soldiers fought under the American flag but came home to find that they had very few legal rights. Black soldiers came home and could not sit in a White restaurant and have a cup of coffee. And here we go again -- denying Americans equal rights. It's time to end this -- EQUALITY NOW -- before our gay heroes make it home only to find that their country still do not give them the same rights as the heterosexuals they fought beside -- the same rights as the heterosexuals they fought to protect.

Black Heterosexuals (Part 2)

The haters and the heterosexuals scared of losing their homosexual spouses WON this round. But what did they really win? So homosexuals can't get a piece of paper that legally binds them to their lover -- so what? So homosexuals can't get health coverage for their children and all the other things that go with same-gender marriages being endorsed by the law. Until heterosexual haters grow hearts and find the true GOD, then let them think they have won something. If taking away our legal rights makes them happy -- then let them have this bit of happiness -- because they probably don't have much in their lives.

NOV 5: I've been thinking about Melissa & Tammy and Ellen & Portia today. I know there are others but they are the only California gay couples I know. Last night, as me and Mom watched the presidential election, I told Mom that tomorrow Melissa and Ellen might not be legally married. This afternoon, she told me that she thought they had won. But when I checked, I found that we all had lost. I have explained to Mom that when the Federal & State Constitutions can be changed so easily, and rights can be taken away so easily, then Black people had better wake up. Now being a Black senior citizen she can understand that better than anything else I could have explained to her.

It's November 9: I have been adding and deleting from the draft of this post since November 5. Mom is watching "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" with Sydney Poitier. Isabel Sanford, the Black housekeeper for the White family enters the kitchen and sees Poitier on the patio talking with her boss, the father of the woman Poitier is involved with romantically. The housekeeper says "civil rights is one thing but this is something else" or something like that. And that falls in with how many Black heterosexuals feel about gay marriage. They don't see gay marriage as a civil rights issue.

I read a Google alert about a Black lesbian who did door-to-door in Black neighborhoods to encourage people to vote in the presidential election. She didn't bring up anything about Prop 8 because her main focus was on the national election and not the state election. She didn't say so, but I know she didn't want to alienate the Black people she was trying to get to vote. I live in the Black community, so I know how the majority of Black heterosexuals feel about homosexuality. A Black 40-year old neighbor woman said Condoleezza Rice needs to get married and have some babies. Now Rice is a Black woman who is Secretary-of-State but her primary purpose should be to get married and have babies -- is how many many many Black women feel about the purpose of a woman. Rice is intelligent and her having a powerful position means nothing to women who think that all a woman is suppose to do is marry a man and have babies. And we certainly know that plenty of men feel the same way. So with that type of mentality in the Black community, is it any wonder that most heterosexual Black citizens do not support gay marriage. Add in the brainwashing of the church and you have most Blacks voting against gay marriage. The same as other heterosexuals who oppose gay marriage, they do not visit gay websites and read what our issues are really about. They listen to the negative propaganda and go with that.

There are Jewish American citizens and how do you suppose they voted as a majority on our issues? How did America's original people vote on our issues? At one time or another, every group of people in America, have been discriminated against. But things that don't affect us personally, the majority will not side with the minority. But as people become more informed, and see things from more than one side, people generally do the right thing. It's just going to take time.

Some of those who oppose us, hate us. But not all heterosexuals hate us, they need to look beyond false teachings and learn the truth.

This evening, I saw a young boy on TV who has leukemia. Think what advancements could have been made if those millions of dollars spent for and against gay marriage had been spent on research. Shame on Americans who wasted that money to stop people from having their civil rights. If their child or a love one comes down with a deadly affliction -- they can kick their own ass for wasting that money.

Black Heterosexuals (Part 1)

Once again a Google alert lead me to something that I have to comment on. And because I can get rather wordy, I replied here at SPT.

"Gays and Lesbians will now know that they can’t just go around thinking that a minority will care about the GLBT cause. The “minorities” will look out for their selfish religious beliefs first. It was sad to see so many blacks voting for Proposition 8 as if they forgot what being discriminated against was like and as if they forgot what it felt to be on this side of the fence."

There is more and it can be found at: http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/2008/11/06/prop-8-wins-ca-fl/ Daily Dose of Queer

I, Salty, am a homosexual Black American woman. Being non-White and a homosexual I have had to deal with what homosexual White Americans have not had to endure. My Black heterosexual sisters and brothers have been indoctrinated into religions. It goes all the way back to slavery but Black American citizens have not broken from religion that was forced on them. Black American citizens in this country still have to deal with police brutality and other racist acts, so a problem they don't consider their's they side with the church. It was religion that gave enslaved Blacks the strength to endure believing that one day things would change. Living in a society that beats you down because of skin-tone, and treat you less than, Blacks as a whole are more concerned with being recognized as Americans. Black homosexuals voted on the side of equality for homosexuals. Black heterosexuals voted on the side of the church. There are White hetero family members who voted against members of their family having equality the same as hetero Blacks. So this is not a Black and White issue. That's what wrong with trying to accomplish anything -- placing blame at a failure. Our federal officials are really to blame because they did like the the rulers did who had Jesus killed. The Rulers passed it to the church leaders who passed it to the people. And the people played right into their hands and killed Jesus. So this is nothing new. The same was done with slavery in America. It was endorsed by the federal government and the church.

I have compared how homosexuals are treated in America to how slaves were treated, up to a point. Just as slave owners used the Bible to justify enslaving and denying Black people freedom then, christians are now using the Bible to deny equal rights to homosexuals. But homosexual caucasions need to realize that there is more at stake in being a "Black minority in America". Heterosexual Blacks watch tv and see mostly heterosexual couples who are White and if a person of color has a love interest, it's with someone White. So in a way, Black heterosexuals are more interested in being seen as heterosexuals. They view homosexuality as a weakness. There is such a stigma in the Black community that Blacks don't want to associate with someone who is or thought to be homosexual because then their sexuality would be questioned.

I was hurt to the point of tears when I read that Prop 8 had passed, which means that people can still hate so much. And even more flowed when I read that people of color voted in massive numbers against equality. I wasn't surprised by it, but it hurt. They voted to deny me my legal rights. It would have been better if they had not voted on this issue at all. But they don't know the ramifications of the Federal and State constitutions being changed so easily. (Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.) When ministers are preaching against homosexuality, the church-goers go with what the preacher tells them. It's the same as Blacks and Gays being in the military. They hope that if they serve their country that they will be included. Blacks have to still deal with not being equal. And even with a Black man being elected President, the bigotry, abuse and murders will not cease. And remember, there are plenty of homosexuals who live as heterosexuals, and I wonder how did they vote. Many Blacks are under the influence of the church the same as in other cultures. How does one fight against that type of mentality/brainwashing?

Me, I have few rights as a Black woman and none as a homosexual woman. Which battle do I focus on today? I'm so tired of fighting.

There will be a time when sexuality will be a non-issue in America. So what do you think will be the issue to divide us then? Perhaps people with blond hair and blue eyes will be the next to be discriminated against.

Christian Bigots Deny Civil Rights

In my opinion, the Gay Rights movement need leaders. And then there should be a march on Washington, DC. The issue of legalizing marriage for Gays is a federal issue since it concerns civil rights. The protest need to be in Washington, DC. to make the federal officials address this issue. They have added an amendment to the US Constitution to give each state the sayso on whether or not Gay citizens can legally marry each other. I am offended that a law would be made that gives my neighbors the authority to say who I can legally marry. My neighbors bar me from legally marrying a woman I love, but makes it okay to marry a man I don't even have to know -- just as long as it is a man.
I live in Virginia where there is very little law for Black citizens. So if my home state made a law that said Blacks, at the age of 18 would automatically have to work 3 years without pay at a certain company, then would the federal government change the US Constitution to allow this? Is every Black citizen of Virginia suppose to leave Virginia before they reached the age of 18? Is that what Gay citizens of California suppose to do -- leave California and go live in Massachuesttes or Canada just so they can be legally married? What if Virginia decided that Black citizens of Virginia could not vote in local elections? Would the federal government change the US Constitution to allow this -- giving each state the right to say who could vote in local elections?
It really bothers me that heterosexual Black citizens would vote to deny anyone their civil rights. For those who claim to believe in the Bible -- why do they think they get to decide judgement on sin and morality. If they believe homosexuality is a sin then why don't they follow what the book says and let God judge. And it is not fair that the federal government makes a law to allow people to decide what is a sin. And that is exactly what has happened. I have an opinion also, and I don't think homosexuality is a sin. Federal officials allow religious bigots to decide law.
It amazes me that heterosexuals pretend that marriage is so sacred, but they allow heterosexual adulterers to violate their marriage contract and nothing is done about it unless someone decides to divorce. They allow heterosexual murderers to legally marry. Why is there no legal penalty for those who commit adultery? And why does the church not have a penalty for heterosexuals who break the Ten Commandment rule that "thou shall not commit adultery"? Why does the church not get a law passed to ban heterosexuals from being able to ever legally marry again when they violate Gods law? It's ridiculous that 17-year-old children can get legally married (as long as they married the opposite gender), but homosexual adults are banned. The church has too much political control and too many people do not think for themselves.
Adultery is a violation of one of the laws written by God. There is nothing written by God that says man should pass judgement on such an act. Which means it is for Him to deal with what He considers a sin. There is no Commandment that says homosexuality is a sin. There is no Commandment that says only a man and woman can be joined. And the stupid spoutings that God made one man and one woman is -- stupid. God made a man and woman for reproductive purposes. The line "be fruitful and multiply" does not mean have children. Jesus Christ didn't marry nor did He have any children. Now Jesus was here as an example, so if it was so important for a man and a woman to marry and produce children, I would think that Jesus would have did that before He was murdered. But Jesus was fruitful and he multiplied by delivering God's message to many people and it continues today -- even though His teachings have been warped by man. One of the Ten Commandments was to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, yet man works and shops on Sunday. And ministers preach for pay on Sundays. One of the Ten Commandments "thou shall not bear false witness" but the "christians" tell lies about God and they tell lies about homosexuals.
Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy. Christians and other religious bigots violate the only laws written by a fiery finger of God and persecute people who God did not single out as sinners. Heterosexual Americans who voted to violate the civil rights of others are like the people who voted to torture and kill Jesus. The Rulers passed the decision to the religious leaders who passed it to the people who voted to kill Jesus. History repeats itself. Every time people vote to purposely hurt another human being that has harmed no one, they side with the people who voted to kill Jesus. (Not everyone was for this but the majority ruled. Seems kind of familiar huh?)
Christians should study the history of christianity. At one time, they were also persecuted. But as I stated earlier -- hypocrits - who blindly follow without question. Now christians are tyrants who force their beliefs on others.
----------------
On a more social, practical level, Christians were distrusted in part because of the secret and misunderstood nature of their worship. Words like "love feast" and talk of "eating Christ's flesh" sounded understandably suspicious to the pagans, and Christians were suspected of cannibalism, incest, orgies, and all sorts of immorality. (To read the rest click: christians 1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_early_Christians_by_the_Romans
(To read even more click : christians 2 - christians 3 http://www.ask.com/web?q=Early+Christians+Persecuted&qsrc=6&o=10601
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/christians.htm

Right On Melissa Etheridge

“Blatantly Hateful" is how Melissa Etheridge describes Prop 8. If you haven't read it yet, click ^..^ and go read what she wrote and the comments. And then come back and read what I have to say. Yes I have more to say. If anyone wants to comment here, I welcome your thoughts on this issue. If you have already blogged about it, then give your link here so that I/we can read it.

First off, no human has the right to tell me who I can love and sex. My life is my own and what I do with it is my business as long as it doesn't infringe on someone elses. The term marriage doesn't need to be redefined. Marriage is simply a joining of people before their family and friends or alone together. People take that step to commit their love to each other.

Jesus was publicly baptisted because it was a way to outwardly show his faith. And to give an example of what we can do to show our belief in God, the Father. Disciples of Jesus (me) do not have to be baptisted (I am), it's just a public display.

There is one word that many people are overlooking and the word is ------
LEGAL. A legal marriage makes it law, and to deny any one group of people their legal rights is ILLEGAL. Is that plain enough. Will they next redefine the word LEGAL? Religion is not suppose to be forced on anyone. God in Heaven said it is our choice to believe in Him or not. So for humans to link marriage and religion means that people who are not religious are committing a religious act. It's the word LEGAL that gives me the right to have all the benefits that heterosexuals have already. Since I can't get LEGALLY married unless I marry a man, then no one should be able to get LEGALLY married. So TAKE AWAY the state and federal benefits that are attached to the word LEGAL. Our officials redefined the word marriage and they act like that is suppose to over-ride the law of the United States Constitution. Under the law, I am not suppose to be discriminated against because of my skin-tone, my heritage, my religion or my sexuality.

My sexuality is just as much a-part of me as my skin tone and my heritage. I can't change it and it is totally wrong to be judged on what I am -- a
homosexual. If I said I didn't want to be Black, then Black people would jump all over me the same way some heterosexuals jump over homosexuality. The reason heterosexuals keep saying that homosexuality is a choice is BECAUSE they wouldn't dare question what GOD has made. And some where, I've heard and read the words -- whom God has joined together, let no man put it asunder. And I seem to recall that we are not to have any God before Him. So I don't have to answer to any man or woman on this sphere.

I just don't understand why some people need to feel like they are better than someone else simply because of skin-tone and sexuality. Neither is a choice for me. And if I had a choice, I don't want or need to change. I don't have to be a man to love a woman and my skin-tone only helps to describe me -- not define me. The words Black homosexual woman do not describe the total me.

(I don't have the equipment to post my picture. It would certainly be an honor to have my pic on this with Melissa Etheridge.)

DENYING GAY MARRIAGE is more wasteful spending

I read that Ellen D had given $100,000 for ads in support of gay marriage in California. That's a week's salary for her. And I'm not even going to calculate how many years I would have to work to make that much money. I just think about how many wells could be dug so that people could have clean drinking water. One house could have been paid for in full. Millions of dollars are being raised to fight for and against gay marriage. That's a waste, and just goes to show why the economy is in the shape it is in now. Wasteful spending. People not really caring about other people enough to do the RIGHT thing. And the same goes for politicians raising campaign money. And who really benefits? The hotels, plane - bus - auto - companies, radio and tv companies. People have lost their homes and jobs and don't have electricity and all that money is just WASTED. Why couldn't at least one politician simply say he was going to make two or three videos to be aired on television and YouTube. I only watched one debate but that was enough for me to get a feel of what each man was about. After that, if I needed more, it should have been on a flyer sent to every citizen registered to vote. Politics equal wasteful spending. How much money did it cost to have the definition of marriage defined and to change state constitutions? Hmm, it sure was easy to change state and federal constitutions.

THE 8 AGAINST 8 CAMPAIGN

8 Days - 8 Bloggers Against Proposition 8 (October 20, 2008 - October 27, 2008)

http://www.eqca.org/siteapps/personalpage/ShowPage.aspx?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4384975&sid=bqKPJWOwFgIRJXMwEmH

SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE. Go to the site above to find out more information for what we each can do to help.

EQ CA = EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

Let's do it state by state if we must.

GAY MARRIAGE

This is the last time, I hope, that I'll write about this subject, unless it's mentioned in a story that I write.

When someone takes something away from someone else without permission, that is stealing. The Federal government doesn't give rights, they take rights away. The American government has stolen my right to marry.

No one has the right to enslave another. They have the power. No one has the right to say that one adult can't marry another adult. They just have the power. Having the power to do wrong does not make it right. Just because something is legal doesn't make it right. This country still has not recovered from slavery. Just because it is not talked about much doesn't mean it has been forgotten or forgiven -- especially when it still exist.

As a Black woman, I know the hurt that still exist in the Black community because of what was done to our foreparents.

As a homosexual Black woman, I know the hurt that homosexual Black people feel when heterosexual Black people vote to deny us the right to legally marry. I know the hurt when some heterosexual Black people publicly make nasty comments about us. It's no different than being called nigga by a White person.

I know, I can have a ceremony, but it wouldn't be legal -- which is meant to make me feel like a criminal. Doing what is not legal is a criminal act according to man's law, which is higher than God's law.

I'm not an angry Black woman, I am a pissed-off Black woman because my rights have been stolen from me by my government. I am pissed-off that Black people born and raised in America would vote against anyone's rights being taken from them. I am an American citizen so I am suppose to have the same rights. Damn, people who were not born here have more rights than I do.

I'm pissed-off that Schwarzenegger, a foreigner, can get legally married here while I can't. He has more rights than I do. Why does his opinion matter more than an American Gay person born and raised in California or anywhere else in this country? And Federal officials who make the laws are cowards for letting this issue be decided state by state -- which in itself goes against the U.S. Constitution. How can a major issue such as marriage be decided state by state. Same-sex marriage is legal in one state but cross that line and it's not legal, not recognized. Marriage is not on the same level as liquor, gambling, the lottery, etc. Legal marriage should be a Federal issue -- since they insist on making it an issue at all.

It saddens me that in this new millennium, I feel no comfort and no trust in my fellow Americans who continue to resist change. It wasn't that long ago, that my foreparents were slaves. They had to wait and persevere until change came. It came with a price. Human life. Change didn't come out of kindness, it came because people fought and died for it. How many Gay people will die simply because they are Gay? How many Gay people will be murdered simply because they like or love somebody?

In America, Gays are legally less than human and not citizens in this country. The American government has not come right out and stated it, but that's what it means when they take away our rights to legally marry. It's called justification. Black people were considered less than human and not citizens so it was okay to enslave abuse, rape, and kill us. Gay people in this country are thought of as less than human and not citizens so we don't have the same rights as heterosexual people in this country. Remember, at some point, even a few slaves were paid for the work they did on occasion and was allowed to basically run the plantation, but had no rights. Even slaves were allowed to pick a mate but wasn't considered really married. Even slaves could have children but wasn't really thought of as parents. Marriage is a man-made idea that has nothing to do with God. Religion is a man-made idea that has nothing to do with God. Religious ideas has been forced on people to the point of death. I can stand in a field, before God and make vows to the woman I love, but it will not be recognized by man-made law.

Things have not changed that much in this country. Just a different issue with the same rhetoric as an excuse to oppress people. Bigots used fear to hold back the progress of free Black people. Most White people during slavery times did not own slaves or even approve of slavery. But it wasn't them, so they didn't publicly object. And the few that did was treated no better than Black people. White women had to be protected from the Black bucks who would ravish them. How is that different than saying children must be protected from Gays? And all the other nonsense.

It is all a scare tactic designed to keep Gays from being visible in a positive way. Because just as White people got more use to seeing Black people around, the easier it got to just think about Blacks as being fellow human beings -- working and raising families, fussing, fighting, cussing, having fun, and trying to survive just like them. No worse on the whole. And as Gays get more visibility, heterosexuals will see that on the whole, we are not much different. Of course, there will always be bigots who don't like people for whatever reason.

But to have my government saying that I am less than human, less than a citizen, pierces.

Yes, I am a pissed-off Black woman, I am an pissed-off Gay woman. I am a pissed-off woman. But I don't take it out on others. How long am I suppose to wait for change? How many of my ancestors died a slave and knew that their grandchildren would be slaves? How many decades after I no longer exist will Gays be allowed to legally marry and have all the benefits that goes with simply writing their names on a piece of paper.

There is suppose to be a separation of church and state. Religion is suppose to be a choice. So the American government should not be making laws based on religious doctrine? --Salty

MELISSA & TAMMY to wed

I keep getting Google alerts about Melissa and Tammy getting married before the next vote in California. Um, didn't they already do that. Oh, it didn't have the government seal of approval, so they are not legally married. Well, I think of them as married. I have a cyber-friend who is married to a woman. They tied the knot in Canada which means it is not recognized in the United States. Well, I recognize it, their family and friends recognize it.

I think every gay couple who wants to get married, should go ahead and have their ceremony. There should be a database where gay couples can register so that there will be a record. We should not let the government have that kind of control over our lives.

Legal Gay Marriage In California

May 15, 2008 - California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban

In a 4-3 decision, the justices rule that people have a fundamental 'right to marry' the person of their choice and that gender restrictions violate the state Constitution's equal protection guarantee.
The 4-3 ruling declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental "right to marry" that extends equally to same-sex couples. It tossed a highly emotional issue into the election year while opening the way for tens of thousands of gay people to wed in California, starting as early as mid-June.
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I took the following comment from another site:

May 15, 2008, Cal
2177. I will never understand why someone cannot love anyone of the opposite sex enough to marry them. Now we are letting our children see that sexual attraction is the most important aspect in a marriage because we can love BOTH men and women as people and value their friendship but only one can please us SEXUALLY. I just don't understand it, maybe that is why I say NO COMMENT
Submitted by: Confused12:06 PM PDT, May 15, 2008
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Salty's revised response to the above by Confused.

To Confused and all the other heterosexuals who don't understand. You don't need to understand my sexuality. I am an American citizen and so by law I am entitled to the same rights that you have. Even more than that, I am an adult human being who don't need you or anyone else dictating my life. Can you understand that.

Looking back over history it seems that traditional marriage had little to do with people getting married because of love and sexual attraction. People have gotten married to unite kingdoms and tribes. Parents have arranged for their children to marry before they could walk. There have also been shot-gun marriages. So it might seem like a strange concept that some people get married because they actually love and desire each other. We have many people in our lives that we love. Are we to marry the one we like/love the most but have so sexual feelings for as long as they are the opposite gender? If sex was not meant to be enjoyed, then why don't humans have a specific time for mating? If sexual desire is to be factored out of marriage then best friends of the same gender should be able to get legally married and have the same rights as married couples of the opposite gender. Why does anyone get married at all? For companionship? Don't need to get married for that. Heck, don't need to get married to have babies. Heterosexuals who got married but are not in-love and desire with their spouse made that choice and should not take it out on homosexuals who dare to face adversity to be who we are -- sexual beings who want the whole package. Heterosexual's can't even give a good reason why they oppose legal marriage for homosexuals. And using the Bible is not a reason because my belief is just as valid. And heterosexuals shouldn't be using God's name to justify denying me equality. Just how hard can it be to reason that no one person or group should have the right to deny another adult the right to legally marry -- deny anyone their CIVIL RIGHTS.