Archive for the ‘homeless’ Category
Ignoring it won’t make gay go away
I was in third grade at a conservative Christian school in 1983 when I first learned that “gay” did not merely mean happy. I discovered that when one of my classmates got in trouble for calling someone gay, and I didn’t understand why saying that was a problem.
I think in-depth discussion of sexuality can and should wait until middle school, but for there to be no mention of it whatsoever prior to that point is, I think, naive. If I and my classmates were discovering the concept in a sheltered environment two-plus decades ago, today’s students know even sooner.
Character and sexual orientation are not synonymous
There is a significant and legitimate need for more parents who are willing to adopt in Tennessee, especially for older children. Determining whether an adult is a fit parent, in my opinion, should have little to do with their sexual orientation and plenty more to do with their character.
I’ve said this before, but I would much rather have Metro Council member Keith Durbin parent a child than State Rep. Rob Briley, and that feeling has nothing to do with which one of them is gay. Decisions about adoption and parenting should have to do with making sure that those who adopt are responsible and compassionate people who are willing and able to care for children above all else.
Out and About back in at Kroger
I’m pleased to hear that Kroger and Out and About Newspaper have arrived at a reasonable compromise. The City Paper reports:
“Nashville is a diverse city, similar to Atlanta, Dallas and other major metropolitan areas,” said Lynn Marmer, Kroger’s Group Vice President of Corporate Affairs, in a statement today. “Having free special interest publications, for example for seniors, families with young children or the GLBT community, is a way of serving local interests.”
I’m not expecting that people who think homosexuality is morally wrong, a population I admit likely constitutes the majority of Nashvillians, will give up their points of view. I do think that allowing other voices to be heard, however, is a worthy aim.
This won’t happen, but I’d still like to hear Kroger explain why Out and About was more offensive than the back pages of the Scene, which are much racier. I have no desire to see the Scene (which I read weekly) leave local grocery stores, but there seems to be some consistency lacking here.
While we’re at it, the City Paper points out that Harris Teeter has not made a decision about whether to welcome back the publication at its local stores. What’s the holdup?
Tucker’s spin on opposing gay rights
Carolyn Baldwin Tucker, current Metro Council member and candidate to be Nashville’s next vice-mayor, is known for breaking into song at public events and singing, “If you want honesty, integrity, vote for Carolyn B.” It appears to me that she is trying to conceal the motivations for her position against domestic partner benefits for city employees, which strikes me as neither honest nor acting with integrity:
Tucker was criticized for voting in 2003 against a bill that would have protected Metro’s gay and lesbian employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. She said Thursday that her vote reflected the beliefs of a majority of county residents. “The vote was not against the gay and homosexual community,” she said. “It was against codification of special rights for persons … who are falling into the gay and lesbian and homosexual community.”
I feel confident that Tucker’s opposition to this bill is grounded in her constituents’ opinions, but it is also influenced by her view that homosexuality is morally wrong, which she neglected to mention in The Tennessean’s story quoted above. I respect Tucker’s right to believe whatever she chooses to believe, but I think she is misrepresenting her views here by trying to claim that her vote was not “against the gay and homosexual community.” In my opinion, if you believe that homosexuality is morally wrong, say so and state that as one of your reasons for opposing the benefits bill. Don’t pretend that you are merely opposing “codification of special rights” or that your position is not contrary (or against) the wishes of the homosexual community.
Chris Wage commented on similar remarks from Tucker in 2003, if you are interested in reading more.
Kroger to ban Briley, Dean and Gentry?
Kroger may need to ban David Briley, Karl Dean and Howard Gentry from shopping at its stores, because all three of them have large full-color ads in Out and About’s current issue.
I’m proud of all three of those candidates for aiming to represent all of Nashville if elected to serve as mayor. Kroger will have to make a judgment call about Bob Clement, on the other hand, who is featured on pages 12 and 14 waffling about his stance on domestic partner benefits for gay city employees.
