Every few months, I ask my Facebook friends what they’d like me to write about. It’s sort of a poll of what’s on the mind of the community. So here goes.
Walli Forman asked what about the changing face of being gay … how all the kids have made life so open.
Good question, especially since the community is discussing age discrimination in a big way these days. Gay youth today have the advantage of seeing real LGBT people on TV, magazines, newspapers, discussions on radio and, of course, there’s the Internet. All of which was brought about by a vibrant gay-rights movement. But we must admit much work still has to be done. Not all gay youth are open and not all gay youth have a simple life. Many still grow up in homes where there is no tolerance for LGBT people. Many still go to schools where they hear “Oh, that’s so gay.” While it indeed does, as the saying goes, get better, we are a community that is still educating America.
Garrick Allan: The importance of Keith Olbermann’s return to TV next Monday. He is one of the few strong, supporting voices we have in the media today.
I left this one in since I adore Olbermann and wanted to give him a plug. He’s the newsman who did a commentary and stated he didn’t know any gay people, but what’s the big deal — let them marry.
Larry Felzer: How do we reconcile our desire to have more open LGBT elected officials vs. our need to have the most qualified person in an elected office?
All one has to do to answer this question is look at the last election. Sherrie Cohen embraced her LGBT community; Malcolm Lazin ran from it, while at the same time taking a salary from the community. And it showed in election results from the 5th and 8th wards: Cohen soared, while it was obvious that the community had had enough of Lazin’s closet campaign. The people do speak.
Patrick Hagerty asked why the community remains marginalized and how can people’s opinions toward sexuality be changed.
All communities are marginalized to some point, but look at last Sunday’s gay Pride parade and festival. We were united and it was inspiring. As to sexuality, Americans seem behind the rest of the developed world on this issue. Education will set them free.
Stephanie Haynes wanted to chat about adoptions by same-sex couples rapidly rising.
True, as we become legal families, we have the same dreams that all Americans do: to have a family. By this time in a couple years, I believe we will all know gay families — if we don’t already. The real fight here are laws in many states that prohibit LGBTs from adopting. Luckily for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York, that is not an issue.
Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at [email protected].