Kevin:

Your words are well taken --- however --- this is one subject where I just cannot contain my emotions. You see Kevin, since being diagnosed HIV+ on December 15, 1988 --- I have had all kinds of interaction with gay people when it came to AIDS ACTIVISM. As I know I do not need to tell you, the gay population were the reason anyone ended up giving a shit about AIDS as a political subject.

I worked with them in my state capitol of Albany, New York, I worked with them in Washington, DC, and I worked with them in my own city. Did I find that they were the reason that this country is falling apart? Not on your life --- in fact my experience was just the opposite.

In my own experience, gay people are more plugged into their community --- as activists and as citizens. I was taught a thing or two about committment, about chosing priorities, and about drawing my line in the sand.

The gay people that I know who have children are BETTER PARENTS as a rule, and it is for the reason above; they are more committed to their children and being in their children's lives, they never yell to their children to stop making noise during a football game. This is something I saw my own uncle Dave do many times at his house when visiting for the holidays. And, as far as taking a stand in life --- the gay men and women with whom I am proud to be associated --- taught me to quit being a candy-ass and make the big stand, which I have done.

Pat's comments in his post "I'll tell you what the fuss is about" were too much for me. First and most important, they were Rush Limbaugh regurgitated nonsense, and not original thoughts. People like this simply repeat what they hear on TV, as they have too little mind to actually read books and form their own opinions about the world that surrounds them.

That was the first problem I had with that comment.

Secondly, as I have also stated here many times, I do not like Pat Brown and I would not walk across the room to let him in if he were knocking on my front door for help --- let's say a murderer was chasing him through my neighborhood. In my daily life, I do not associate with anyone that bigoted and mean-spirited against a group of people to whom I literally owe my life. If you care to look, there is a posting in the archives where I spelled out in simple terms what I think of this person.

Here is Pat's original message, which was much more mean- spirited than anything I could ever write:

=== begin message here ===

I hate to rain on the parade around here so I will.

Points:

1. Mass has decided to single handedly changed the course of what has been accepted for Centuries going against the will of the people by the decision of a few left wing judges (from what I'm told one of the judges was gay and voted against it for that very reason)

2. Comparing this to desegregation or affirmative action is ludicrous and I'm glad some black Christian leaders have called this for what it is. Deplorable.

3. We are going to be playing mop up for this in the rest of the states when these gays move to other areas and try to have these marriages be valid (get ready because it's comin)

Marc it's like the frog that gets in the warm water only to die because he does not feel the heat rising slowly. The gay activistim is a strong one in this country slowly chipping away at the moral fiber of the United States. I'm just counting the day till this is repealed because it will be a cold day in August in Austin Texas before this kind law is passed in the Lone Star State.

=== end message here ===

What Pat fails to understand is that it is his buddies REAGAN, BU$H, LIMBAUGH, GINGRINCH, and the rest of the NEO-BOLSHEVIK movement that has fucked over this country more than any other group of people. This is FACT, and this is easily proven by anyone who has an hour to spend on GOOGLE or LEXIS/NEXIS.

Yeah, maybe my words were a little over the top --- however, I see no need to apologize for anything I said until Pat himself apologizes for his assertions --- which are nowhere near the truth, by the way.

Finally, I may have been over the top in the eyes of some --- however, I am not afraid to draw that line in the sand --- which I have clearly done here. I see no reason to apologize for that.

If more people did just that --- our country would not be in the sorry state it is at the moment.

Now, if Pat will go on the record and apologize for being a BIGOT AGAINST GAYS, then I will apologize for wishing one of his children turns out gay.

So, I guess it is now up to Pat --- I for one will not be holding my breath waiting for his apology.

KDB = Buffalo, NY USA