From the category archives:

People

This is an interesting article (emphasis mine and thoughts after the jump) …

(CNN) — It used to be called “the love that dare not speak its name” — particularly in Hollywood, where the revelation of homosexuality was believed to be a career-killer.

Clay Aiken recently announced he was gay on the cover of People magazine.

Now, out gays and lesbians are as casually visible as the cover of People magazine, which has recently run stories on Ellen DeGeneres’ wedding to Portia de Rossi and Clay Aiken’s decision to discuss his sexuality.

So, in a time when self-declared bisexual Tila Tequila can have a highly rated MTV show on looking for a partner of either sex, Lindsay Lohan talks about her relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson and “Star Trek’s” George Takei can have a very public wedding with his longtime partner, is coming out still a big deal?

Publicist Howard Bragman, author of the forthcoming “Where’s My Fifteen Minutes” (Portfolio), says that it is.

“Every person that comes out is another barrier coming down,” Bragman, who is openly gay, told CNN.com. Acceptance by the mainstream public, he observes, is easier but by no means automatic, particularly when issues such as gay marriage are at stake. “I look at it as a long-term process. The revolution is over — now it’s an evolution.”

[From In Hollywood, sexuality is less secret, still can be big deal - CNN.com]

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The press release

Exodus Launches New Web Site for a New Generation

Orlando, FL- Exodus Youth, a division of Exodus International, launched a new look for their youth web site today seeking to better meet the needs of a new generation seeking biblical answers about sexuality.

The improved web site, www.ExodusYouth.net, has not only been redesigned to meet the needs of a more blog-savvy, technically advanced generation, it’s doing so in a new way. For over thirty years, Exodus International has been reaching out to those seeking to bring their same-sex attraction in line with their faith. Now, the organization is looking to continue the same ministry to young people in a way that is more authentic and aware of the real-life struggles they face today.

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This isn’t as shocking as Ray Boltz (read my blogpost on his “coming out” here). My thoughts about Clay after the jump.

NEW YORK (AP) — Clay Aiken is finally confirming what many people already knew: He’s gay. The cover of the latest People magazine shows Aiken holding his infant son, Parker Foster Aiken, with the headline: “Yes, I’m Gay.” The cover also has the quote: “I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things.”

The magazine has an interview with Aiken and confirmed that he was on the cover but refused to release the article to The Associated Press until Wednesday.

The baby’s mother is Aiken’s friend and record producer Jaymes Foster.

Aiken, who gained fame as the runner-up on “American Idol” in 2003, rarely addressed the frequent rumors about his sexuality. In an interview with The Associated Press two years ago, he said: “I don’t really feel like I have anybody to answer to but myself and God and the people I love.”

The multiplatinum singer recently released the CD “On My Way Here” and made his Broadway debut this spring in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”
On the Net:

* http://www.clayaiken.com

[From The Associated Press: Clay is gay: Aiken comes out of the closet]

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The Gay Legacy?

by Randy on September 22, 2008 · Comments

This is an interesting (albeit biased toward redefining marriage) article. My thoughts after the jump … (emphasis in quote mine)

… These are typical faces of the gay and aging—a growing population often overlooked by mainstream advocates. Gerontologists haven’t traditionally viewed sexual orientation as relevant to their work—and, according to a study by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, most national health surveys of elderly citizens fail to assess sexual orientation. But gay seniors confront unique challenges: they’re twice as likely as straights to live alone, and 10 times less likely to have a caretaker should they fall ill. Older gay men are at high risk for HIV, and many suffer the psychological effects of losing friends to the AIDS crisis. (See our report on HIV and aging.) Many face discrimination in medical and social services, and on top of it all, they’re less likely to have health insurance: one survey, by the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law, at UCLA, estimates that gay seniors are half as likely to have coverage as their straight counterparts.

[From Long Invisible, Gay Seniors Seek Respect, Services | Newsweek Culture | Newsweek.com]

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The more I dug into the above site the more grievous the information. When I saw the little girl near the end of the opening trailer … my heart breaks. They say there are more slaves in the world today than ever before. I am sitting here not understanding the depth of all the emotions running through my soul right now. Anger, sadness, sorrow … I don’t know what else to say right now.

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As regular readers and friends know, I have been shopping for a new gym this year. I worked out regularly for five years up until last summer. I fell off the exercise wagon for a myriad of reasons and grew very dissatisfied with my old gym.

I won’t bore you with all the details but suffice it to say that quite a number of things stole away my time and motivation. Add in the fact that I wanted to eat … a lot, and … I did. It was really good food too. But, sadly, fat Randy returned.

However, the past six weeks I have been really, and honestly, enjoying digging in and upping my workout. Five days a week for the past six weeks and counting :). It has gotten to be as serious a workout as I was doing before I fell off the gym radar last summer. I feel GREAT. I am losing weight but not nearly as fast as before. Partly because I know I am building more muscle and while I am making healthier choices, I refuse to do those evil legalistic diets. So far I am just shy of 20 lbs lighter than I was six weeks ago but I am honestly not using the scales as the main focus of my motivation or inspiration.

woot.

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Yesterday I was on the Chris Fabry Live! Show (Moody Broadcasting) concerning the story of famous Christian singer Ray Boltz. It was concerning how Mr. Boltz is now saying that he is gay and finally at peace with pursuing homosexual relationships.

It wasn’t the best interview I’ve ever done and I think it is in part due to the fact that the whole thing is so sad to me. Let me explain, I feel awful for him that he felt so isolated and suffered from shame. It’s sorrowful that he didn’t feel like he could be honest and transparent with others unless it was to embrace a gay identity and worldview.

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“How Do I overcome my fear of telling my gay friends I am overcoming my same sex attraction and homosexuality tendencies? What can I say to them that won’t sound like I’m personally attacking them.”

I want to spend some time laying groundwork here by sharing about my gay friends before and right at the time of my initial decision to pursue Christ’s will for my relationships. I will also touch upon the fact that I do have people I consider friends who identify as gay in my life today.

I left my gay identity and started questioning my gay defined worldview at the age of 24. All my friends were gay or pro-gay, I was “out” at work, with family and neighbors. Being “gay” affected what I considered to be options for sex, romance and friendship. It also imposed some restrictions on who I thought God could be like and what He believed. I would often share with Christians that God couldn’t possibly be who they think He is because I wouldn’t be the way I am if He thought so differently. I had even met an “former homosexual” when I was twenty years old and thought he was crazy. Being gay was the focal point of who I was. Sure, there were other elements of my life but they were all somehow run through the filter of a presupposed gay defined worldview.

In other words, I gave every Christian a run for their money if they brought the subject up. I know a little bit about the above question from both sides of the fence.

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Jay S. writes:

Why is it that time is the permission of our day? When we hear the phrase “This is 2008″ which is usually stated after a statement about a particular behaviour or act, why does time allow for liberal thought and actions? Is this an obvious answer - or is it just an excuse?

GREAT question and while it is probably out of my league … I’ll give it a shot :).

I honestly don’t think it is just a liberal issue. The declaration of time carries with it and underlying assumption that as time progresses so does wisdom and understanding in every avenue of the human experience. Usually people assume that their own opinions are manifestations of that progress. I have noticed an underlying conceit that moderns are somehow more wise and intelligent than of generations past.

On one hand, time being a barometer of progress is true. Who would have thought we would be where we are at technologically a hundred years ago? … or even twenty years ago. The sciences and medical fields have also progressed in a similar manner. We could come up with a bunch of different examples of how time does bring wisdom, understanding and progress. But my guess would be that most of those would be found in the objective disciplines and inventions. When it comes to personal and social progress the human track record is full of hills and valleys marking great gains (MLK and the Civil Rights Movement) and great horrors (WWII, Islamo Fascism.) On the personal and interpersonal levels … we are all over the place.

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::: manly chuckle :::

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