Tuesday, February 28, 2006

A good cause for those who can get out of military service in Israel

The Israel Defense Forces allow openly gay individuals to serve. Service is generally required, but if an exemption is granted, say for medical reasons, it is nice that such individuals can join an organization dedicated to advancing their interests.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Does brain difference remove 'choice' from homosexuality and why we don't care

A recent study showed more evidence of a genetic backing behind human sexual preference. The gay male brains reaction to male pheromone (derivative of male sweat/testosterone) was the same as female brains reaction. In addition, the gay male brains did not react to female pheromone (derivative of estrogen). This difference in reaction could indicate a brain difference predetermined before birth or at very early childhood. If this is the case, it indicates genetic source behind sexual preference. And if there is a genetic reason behind sexual preference, it removes the idea that there is choice in being gay.

However despite all this, does it matter whether homosexuality's source is genetics or choice? I think not. Interfering in (or discriminating based-on) others non-harming behavior is distinctly un-cool.

-- added 9/16/05 --

Many scientific papers have been written to try to understand how homosexuality arises. This is good, but only as a distracting side-argument to counter flawed arguments by social conservatives who insist being gay is a choice and can be changed. When confronted with the general idea that two adults should be able to do as they please in the privacy of their own homes, social conservatives retreat to saying they don't see why government should support gays by allowing them to marry. The argument then revolves around children and family and protecting this unit. But there are plenty of heterosexual couples who don't have children. Why does government support this simple potentiality without it actually becoming a reality and also, laws do not currently preclude gay couples from adopting or going to a sperm bank, and there are currently many gay parents. Why not support them?

-- updated 02/21/06

An Advocate article discusses a UCLA study where it appears the mothers of more than one gay son tend to have turned off large portions of one of her two X chromosomes. It's bio-speak for: there could be a genetic basis for homosexuality.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Northwest Airlines refuses to honor award tickets to gay couple

It seems Northwest insists on being discriminatory in it's attitude towards employees and customers. Might I suggest to avoid using Northwest Airlines.

-- updated 2/28/06

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid26232.asp

Okay, so Northwest explains that the ticket was part of an interline exchange where reciprocal honoring of domestic partner benefits was asked for fairness. It was Air New Zealand's refusal to honor Northwest domestic partner requests that caused this. I suppose it is a bit much for Northwest to refuse to do business with Air New Zealand over their discriminatory policies.

Christian Churches Celebrate Darwin's Birthday

Wow, what's this all about? I guess not all Christians are interested in alienating themselves from science.

Christian Churches Celebrate Darwin's Birthday: "kthejoker writes 'Today is the 197th anniversary of the great biologist Charles Darwin's birth. In response, some 450 Christian churches are celebrating Darwin's birth, saying, 'Darwin`s theory of biological evolution is compatible with faith and that Christians have no need to choose between religion and science.' There's also an interesting perspective on Darwinism and Christianity in the San Jose Mercury News.'"

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

UN refuses to hear application for Gay groups admission to Economic and Social Council

The US joined Iran and Zimbabwe in refusing to hear the applications at all. Not a surprise I suppose considering Bush's neo-con Bolton is the ambassador and anti-minority Condi as state department head.

The US claims one of the groups had ties to pedophiles. The ILGA group severed ties with the 'north american man boy love association' in 1994 which is some time ago. The Danish group had no such ties. Why not just call all gays pedophiles and leave it at that? This seems to be what the US state department wants to imply.

If the US government is so imprecise in it's messaging, I would think it appropriate to just go ahead and call all people the Bush adminstration doesn't like -- such as Muslims, Jews, African-Americans, Chinese, hispanics, poor people, and gays -- pedophiles and be done with it.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Homophobia makes Northern Ireland inhospitable

An article reports that gay-bashing is making Northern Ireland an unfriendly place for gays. I was guessing Northern Ireland is unfriendly in general. Is it wishful thinking, but I thought the place that brought an end finally to the war between Unionists and Nationalists and is the home of U2 would be enjoying the peace and respecting others, including members of minority groups.

There has been at least one well received gay themed movie coming out of Ireland (not Northern Ireland though), called 'Cowboys & Angels'. The gay part of the movie was disappointingly toned down quite a bit, but still a gay supportive movie. I imagine gay interest movies actually may make a fair amount of money relative to others because they have a loyal following in the States. (In the supplemental materials for gay-themed Russian film "You I Love", the Australian producer mentions that ironically her film received the greatest worldwide distribution for a Russian film due to it's theme.) Anyway, 'Cowboys & Angels' might prove that the gay bashing is not an Irish thing, it's a Northern Ireland thing.