(SF Gate) Behold, the ongoing, increasingly startling research: homosexual and bisexual behavior, it turns out, is rampant in the animal kingdom. And by rampant, I mean proving to be damn near universal, commonplace across all species everywhere, existing for myriad reasons ranging from pure survival and procreative influence, right on over to pure pleasure, co-parenting, giddy screeching multiple monkey orgasm, even love, and a few dozen other potential explanations science hasn't quite figured out yet. Imagine.Well, you didn't need animal research to tell me the Mormon and Catholic lifestyle choices are unnatural. I can't speak for the Catholics, but my Mormon upbringing tells me the critters are mocking God's law because we can't manage to keep the sacred underwear on them.Are you thinking, why sure, everyone knows about those sex-crazed dolphins and those superslut bonobo monkeys and the few other godless creatures like them, the sea turtles and the weird sheep and such, creatures who obviously haven't read Leviticus. But that's about it, right? Most animals are devoutly hetero and straight and damn happy about it, right?
Wrong.
New research is revealing so many creatures and species that exhibit homosexual/bisexual behavior of some kind, scientists are now saying there are actually very few, if any, species in existence that don't exhibit it in some way. It's everywhere: Bison. Giraffes. Ducks. Hyenas. Lions and lambs, lizards and dragonflies, polecats and elephants. Hetero sex. Anal sex. Partner swapping. The works.
Let's flip that around. Here's the shocking new truism: In the wilds of nature, to not have some level of homosexual/bisexual behavior in a given species is turning out to be the exception, not the rule. Would you like to read that statement again? Aloud? Through a megaphone? To the Mormon and Catholic churches? And the rest of them, as well? Repeatedly?
Sean Kennedy, a young gay man in South Carolina was brutally murdered in SC in 2007 (a state with no hate crimes law). After Sean's death his mother Elke Kennedy founded Sean's Last Wish, and she has toured the nation to recount the tragic murder and to educate people about the need for federal hate crimes legislation. Here is what happened to Sean...
Well his murderer has been released from prison a week early after his short stint:
Stephen Andrew Moller was released from his 5-year suspended sentence on July 1. His sentence had already been reduced by two months after receiving a good behavior credit for receiving his GED while in prison.HRC:"Again the judicial system failed they say one thing and do something else," Sean's mother Elke Kennedy said in a release. "He should have served every single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from prison today, one week early. Where is the justice?"
Both Elke Kennedy and Joe Solmonese submitted written testimony at the hearing in support of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). To read the testimony, visit www.HRCBackStory.org. The legislation, which was passed in the U.S. House by a vote of 249-175 in April, would provide local police and sheriff's departments with federal resources to combat hate violence. The legislation is currently awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate.Below the fold, Elke Kennedy speaks about Sean."Sean is among many American's who are targeted just because of who they are. These crimes not only harm individuals, they terrorize entire communities," said Solmonese. "After more than a decade and nine successful votes in Congress, there is no good reason for any delay on bringing hate crimes legislation to the President's desk. We must finally pass this bill and start the important steps to erasing hate in our country."
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), the Kennedy family's senator, recently wrote a shocking letter to local priests and pastors advocating against hate crime legislation. DeMint, who has regularly spoken out against the LGBT community, wrote the following in reference to hate crimes legislation: "Many pastors hesitate to explain that government policies have helped cause the decline of America's culture, morality and spirituality. ... I am writing you today to remind you that religious principals and biblical teachings produced the values and polices that made America exceptional, prosperous, and good."
Here is my video of Elke Kennedy at 2008 NC Pride:
Related:
* Sean's Last Wish
* The SC Pride Movement
After some thought regarding the comments moderation issue discussed in Autumn's post, and taking seriously the issue of what constitutes "silencing" or not listening to a group, it's time for Blenders who comment, not lurk, to determine whether a fully free-speech zone is actually what is desired.
Here's the scoop: from right now until 7/9:
* The ratings will be turned off.No baristas will review comments; you can email the PHB tips addy, but we will let the experiment run its course. This means that all of you now have the freedom to say anything you want in any way you want to any other Blender in the comment threads; however, so would others have that ability to do the same thing to you.
* The three commenters who were banned in the threads in question have been reinstated; they will stay active after the experiment. That's part of the reboot.
* No baristas will moderate any front-page post or diary comments for opinion, tone, language or cross-commenter exchange of ideas or disagreement.* The exceptions:
-- diaries created for spamming (we have some dolts who sign up to promote a product, not write a discussion post)
-- direct physical threats between commenters, or publishing of private information.
That will change the blog's character from my original intent for the short term; it will no longer be a coffee table discussion among friends within a virtual coffee shop -- the comments sections will resemble what you see on most other blogs.
That leaves civility up to you to enforce in the comment community. The results may bring some lurkers come out to share their thoughts with baristas about the change and how it plays out. People who comment are a very small fraction of the people who actually read the Blend, and regular commenters an even smaller sample. I don't know how this experiment will play out, but I think it's worth knowing what changes will occur when you're on your own.
For those of you who think moderation is the better route, you may or may not be vindicated. The feedback on how best to moderate in the other thread is interesting and predictable -- it also points out that it's a subjective matter to "know" what is or isn't acceptable, how long is too long to do something about it and what the price that should be paid and when. That's a tall order and there won't be a consensus on it.
Autumn, Louise, Lurleen, and I can't be everywhere, monitoring everything. The routine, such as it is, has been piecemeal, as we discover inappropriate comments (a very subjective exercise, as we know all too well), or when they have been brought to our attention.
That also begs the question -- what if no one is available on a given day? Can the "offense" drag on for on for days unattended without someone accusing baristas of negligence in monitoring? The easy answer is no. It happens already. People really do want to believe we're tethered to computers staring at threads all the time, I have no earthly idea why, and are ready to charge that we are purposely "letting someone get away with it."
But the bottom line is that I'd rather not have to review any comments at all - is it that difficult to discuss controversial matters with one another and make mistakes and learn from each other, rather than attack and lash out in anger? We're about to find out.
Related:
* Choose it or lose it? -- Civility on the Blend
* Transgender? Transsexual? Trans-Ghettoized?
Stonewall Anniversary Poem
by Governor Barbara Roberts
From Stonewall to Salem, Across this whole nation We've marched and we've lobbied, Forty years in duration. For fairness, equality For dignity and rights For safety, and partners To turn on the lights. To come out of the darkness, Emerge from the closet, To rise above hatred And the bigots who cause it. The path has been long With hurdles and roadblocks But the future looks bright With adoptions and wedlocks. So on this eve of Stonewall We celebrate gains We stand shoulder to shoulder For the wder For the work that remains. We thank all who have given, Taken risks, led the way Lesbian, Trans, Bi, Straight and Gay. So - lift up your glasses And your hearts - one and all As we toast our martyrs and heroes And the brave souls of Stonewall.
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