Shadow Void

A Step In The Right Direction

Hey guys, this Million Mom thing is starting to really wear on me. Now, I don't buy any comics from DC or Marvel however, I think the time is now for us to stand up for these businesses, that are facing boycotts. I don't have comics coming to my house but I do pay for digital subscriptions. We need to support these companies and others who support us. We need to speak up. Our voices need to be louder than their voices. If you are an ally than I think it's only proper that you allow your voices to be heard. What do you think?

Congrats Man

Just want to say big thumbs up to Jim Parsons. Your community supports you.

To The Parents Of That Kid

Hi,

You don't know me and I don't know you, but I have to say is still important and you need to listen. You may or may not have a closeted son or daughter in your home. First off, don't panic! I promise you it's not the end of the world. It's going to be a shock at first and I understand that, but don't push them away, give them awkward silence, or try to change them. You didn't do anything to cause it. It's a mental illness or a disease. Yes, there will be challenges in their life. Yes, your child may face bullying. Remember using anti-gay speech around your son or daughter can send the message that you won't love them when you find out or that you don't love them period. Don't be one of those parents who toss away the relationship you have with your child just because they come out to you. Educate yourself and your family, because then you'll be empowered. Be ready to fight for your child, be ready to stand by your child, they may need you. Do be involved in their lives. There will be people who will walk away from your teen because they refuse to stand by them. I encourage you to learn the signs of depression and suicide. Be diligent! Do seek out professional help if your child needs it. Keep an open mind when your child comes to you. There are groups ready to take your hand. PFLAG is one of those groups. Something you may not realize is that GLBT youth often feel alone and isolated amongst their peers, their family, church, and community. You have the power to stand by them, to love them or the power to add to the voices that are hammering them. Coming out to you will be one of the scariest moments in their lives. It is something that they will always remember.

Sincerely,

Chuck

Reparative Therapy Ban And A Rant

I have never agreed with the notion of changing one's sexuality. It makes very little sense to me. It is a part of who we are as a person. Our sexuality does not define who are and it should not. I am hoping that California passes this law. I do not think this therapy really works. It may mask sexuality making one believe that they have been "cured". Religion plays a major role in parents wanting their kids to be changed. Gay kids have enough to deal with in this life without adding this insanity on top of it. To me it tells a kid, that their parents do not think their kid is normal so they put their hopes in this therapy. I would love to know the "success" rate of reparative therapy. I know there are people who claim to have been fixed or cured of their sexuality, but I am not convinced. I hope the citizens of California do the right thing for their kids and see that this ban is passed.

Had to say this

If this post offends anyone, then I am sorry but I feel like I need to say this. The world needs parents who truly love their kids, who love them no matter what. Parents turn their kids away for any reason do not deserve to be parents. When you stand in the way of your child's happiness, are you really doing right by them? Just because your son and daughter are gay does not mean that suddenly, you can abandon them. It gives you no freaking right to abuse them verbally or physically. You have no right, no right at all. You should instead realize that your child is coming to you with something that has perhaps been a huge burden in their life up till now.

I have nothing against straight people, Christians, or any other people in this great nation, but apparently there are people who can't stand me. They can't stand the idea of me of being truly happy with the man that I love. It sickens me to think that when I find him, that we will always be second class citizens with no legal rights to protect us in times of sickness or death. In Indiana, we couldn't be married. We may be able to adopt. They do not recognize any marriages from outside of Indiana, which means there are no protections. In other words, if I get sick and I'm in the hospital, my family could keep my b/f from seeing me. We couldn't file taxes as a couple. He couldn't inherit from me. In the event of my death, my family could legally put him through a mess. I'm asking to consider your loved one and how you would feel if suddenly, you were told that couldn't visit them in the hospital or that you could no longer be carried on their health insurance or vice versa. Our love is just as real as the love between man and woman. I don't have anything else to say, so I am going to say good-bye. Oh one last thing, you can't decide who I love.

You Should See This:

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Been Silent For Way To Long

I've gotten away from my usual blog posts. But there has been something eating me this week. That something is a teacher in our great nation, that has the morals of from some dark and twisted place. I want to address it and I need to address it, so bare with me whilst I rant.

Dear Teachers,

I will be the first one to defend you. I realize that your job is stressful. I've seen the hardships that come with the job with my eyes and ears. But, what I cannot and will not support is a rogue teacher. When one of you uses your power to seduce a student, you've crossed the line. Oh…I'm sure there are times when the students may flirt with you, but come on give me a break, whose the adult. When there are teachers who hurt kids well, I think they should see a nice dark cave on some remote mountain top as their prison. I realize that kids can scream murder and a teacher could be sent out on the rails, but there are times when someone should have screamed and no one did. In case you're wondering where this rant is coming from here is the link and hopefully it works:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/christine-mccallum-sex-with-student-sentenced_n_1385559.html

The boy's father called her a monster and a predator. I agree with him. There are so many things that could have stopped this. What was she thinking? Why didn't her husband say something? Hopefully he left her. What was the judge and jury thinking? I don't care if the child at any level had some hands in all of this, she was the supposed adult and the teacher. Sure, there are times when I get upset with a student, but I would never and I mean NEVER drop to her level or the level of any other teacher gone rogue. I am don't care what would have happened if the student had been female and the teacher was male. There is a problem with here. So what happens after her jail time of twenty-nine months and her 10 year probation is over? Does she go back into teaching? Who is going to pay for the counseling for that student of hers? It should come out of her bank account. If the husband knew about the mess, he should be arrested too and his bank account should be put towards his counseling as well. Any way, I think this is out of my system now.

Ohio Wild and Dangerous Bill on the table

March 15, 2012

 

Dear Charles:

 

Thank you for your email expressing concern for Senate Bill 310, which is the newly proposed wild and dangerous animal regulation bill. This legislation will make a number of changes to Ohio's current regulations, while still allowing individuals who own wild and dangerous animals to keep them, if they follow Ohio's new regulations. As we start this process, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your opinions with me.

 

Senate Bill 310 was drafted after recommendations were made by a task force set up by Governor Kasich. This task force has been researching current regulations for over a year and the unfortunate events in Zanesville have only sped up the recommendation process. SB310 is now pending in the Senate Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources Committee, which began hearings on March 14, 2012. The proposed legislation has four main components: protecting the safety of all Ohioans, the animals, personal property, and business interests. The current draft was designed with animal owners in mind, and is still under discussion. Please know that as a member of the committee currently reviewing this proposal, I value your opinions and ideas, and I want to keep an open dialogue as my colleagues and I go through the legislative process with this bill.

 

Thank you again for contacting our office. If you have any suggestions for how to improve this legislation to better help the state in this endeavor, please feel free to follow up with my office. Also, please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions regarding this issue or any other state issue.

 

Sincerely,

Back Once Again

Sorry everyone, once again we've had issues at the house which caused the internet to vanish for a couple days. Sorry dear readers, I love you all.

Second, I want to say how truly sorry I am to anyone who suffered because of the storms that went through the south and the Midwest yesterday. I hope and pray that you are all safe and sound.

We Need:

I wrote this out in my journal in complete form but now I am going to mess it all up. Okay…so I've written a lot about bullying, some about suicide, and some about the homeless epidemic among teens in this country. I know there are dozens if not hundreds of organizations out there that support all three of these issues. Teen suicide no matter the cause strips the world of a future scientist, a future congress member, a teacher, a poet, or a teacher. It seems to me though that we need to do more beforehand than we do after the fact. Please remember that this piece is largely based on my opinions and my observations so please don't get upset with me. If you don't like what I'm saying then go away. I've spoken with people from both The National Suicide Hotline and The Trevor Project. I can honestly say that they care about the people that they're talking to no lie. Now it is time to move on and upward to bullying. Bullying as we know as become an epidemic. So how do we battle it, we keep ourselves open and ready to stand up. The teen homeless stats are scary and I'm not going to post the numbers but trust me there not good. To me it seems overwhelming, but there are tons of organizations out there to help teens. One barbershop gives free haircuts to homeless teens if they have a coupon from their shelter. Pretty cool and that is just one example of many organizations and businesses that are helping out. Still, I want to convey the message of a piece that I saw today. We need to stop looking away from the issues at hand. Time to get involved and time to get the message out there.