Los Angeles, U.S.A - Artist Michael Becker was recently struck by the disparity of the Los Angeles gay community of today to the one he remembers finding when he first moved there.

“It wasn’t considered OK to be gay in 1963. It was a crime,” said Becker.

His latest exhibit celebrates the liberation of gays from where they were to where they are now. Using photos he took with his camera phone in a 45-minute period of time on the eve of the Gay Pride festival in 2011, Becker captures the essence of acceptance and respect felt by today’s gay population.

Being present at numerous raids at The Four Star – the Rolls Royce of gay bars 50 years ago – Becker would watch friends be arrested for being gay. He himself was beaten and left for dead by young men in a hate crime incident in June of 1968. He was lured from the corner of Robertson and Melrose to Laurel Canyon.

“They kicked me beyond recognition – my nose was broken in five places,” Becker recalls. “I only survived because I pretended my neck was broken so they left.”

Fast forward to 2011 when Becker was visiting a bar and learned it was the eve of the Gay Pride festival.

“I became enveloped by the music emanating from the bar and watched drag queens, lesbians and other people very free in their expression,” he said. “I walked over to almost the same corner where I had been ambushed many years ago and starting taking photos with my Samsung Galaxy phone.”

His pictures are a stark contrast to the images in his mind of Los Angeles past.

He has culled 13 images from the very spontaneous photo session, which have been enlarged and mounted on Plexiglas for the exhibit which will run from June 15 to July 2 at The Julia Dean Photo Workshops, with all proceeds going to the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. An artist’s reception will be held from 6 – 10 pm on June 15 at The JDPW Center, located at 755 Seward St. in Los Angeles.

“This show is different from all my others in one regard – it’s mainly people,” said Becker, who is best known for his architectural photography. CARS – his successful show earlier this year at Gallery Brown, highlighted his stylized photos of classic vehicles.

Smaller versions of some photos from the Gay Pride collection hang in AIDS Project Los Angeles’ new Wellness Center in Baldwin Hills.

“The tie-in is irresistible. My show is in June benefiting the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center and the same images are permanently installed in the AIDS Project Los Angeles’ building,” he said.

“Picture it,” said Becker. ”I was left for dead in 1968 and watched joyous young people in 2011. The recollection brings tears to my eyes.”

Image Courtesy of   Guillaume Paumier

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Clinton, U.S.A. – The following is a statement by Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, Mt. Ennon Baptist Church:

As an African-American pastor and clergy leader, I am frequently asked how I have been able to support civil marriage protection for gay and lesbian couples. After listening to Christians debate their support of or their opposition to homosexuality, I came to the conclusion that one’s personal religious beliefs should have no bearing in determining whether other American citizens deserve equal treatment under the law.

For too long the question of equal rights for gays and lesbians has been mired in a theological debate that in my opinion is not suitable in a public policy discussion. The issue of civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples is an issue of public policy, not theology. The role of the State in a free democratic society is fundamentally different than the role of the Church, or any religious institution for that matter.

The role of the State in a pluralistic society is to provide for the common good and to protect the civil liberties of all its citizens. As a Christian in this country, I value my religious freedom, but I also recognize that I cannot impose my religious beliefs on others in matters of public policy.

It is completely legitimate for people of faith to debate the moral legitimacy of same sex marriage as a religious rite, but that question is more appropriate for a different arena; the theological seminary, the pulpit, or the Bible study group, for example. In the public policy arena, the issue is simply whether gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and civil liberties as other American citizens. For me, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.”

As a nation, we have always held that the ideals of our Constitution supersede subjective religious beliefs and views. One’s personal religious beliefs about homosexuality should not be the basis for determining whether same gender loving couples deserve equal treatment under the law.

To do so establishes a discriminatory and dangerous public policy precedent that potentially threatens the civil liberties of all people. As a Christian minister, I believe my role is to live in my faith, not to legislate it, and as long as the State does not seek to regulate the Church, the Church should not seek to regulate the State.

Civil marriage protection for gay and lesbian couples in no way infringes upon the right of religious bodies to define religious marriage as they see fit based upon their traditions, doctrine, and scriptural interpretations. Religious institutions have always acknowledged the role of the State to provide civil marriage for all citizens regardless of their belief system or religious background. Every union acknowledged by the State, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is a civil marriage, and is not synonymous with religious marriage.

Civil marriages, therefore, do not have the power to determine, delimit, or define how religious institutions treat marriage based upon their own values, beliefs, and scriptural interpretations. Religious marriage is solely province of a community of faith, and there is no legislative act that can be imposed upon faith communities to acknowledge, sanction, or perform.

Just as the State has no jurisdiction over the theological beliefs, practices, and ordinances of any house of worship, religious institutions should not seek to restrict equal opportunity to others in matters of public policy.

While there are a range of theological views about same sex marriage, all Americans can stand united under the banner of extending civil liberties and justice to all citizens. People of faith will not allow their theological diversity on this or other issues to be exploited for political gain. The welfare of our nation rests upon growing our economy, preserving the social safety nets for the poor and the elderly, and creating a civil society of mutuality, tolerance, and respect.

The Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D. is the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, MD, click here

Image Courtesy of  Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

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Clinton, U.S.A. – “The issue of civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples is an issue of public policy, not theology,” says Rev.Delman Coates a supporter of civil marriage protection for gay and lesbian couples.

”For too long the question of equal rights for gays and lesbians has been mired in a theological debate that in my opinion is not suitable in a public policy discussion,” Delman further states.

“The role of the State in a free democratic society is fundamentally different than the role of the Church, or any religious institution for that matter.  The role of the State in a pluralistic society is to provide for the common good and to protect the civil liberties of all its citizens.  As a Christian in this country, I value my religious freedom, but I also recognize that I cannot impose my religious beliefs on others in matters of public policy.

It is completely legitimate for people of faith to debate the moral legitimacy of same sex marriage as a religious rite, but that question is more appropriate for a different arena; the theological seminary, the pulpit, or the Bible study group, for example.   In the public policy arena, the issue is simply whether gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and civil liberties as other American citizens.  For me, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.”

As a nation, we have always held that the ideals of our Constitution supersede subjective religious beliefs and views.   One’s personal religious beliefs about homosexuality should not be the basis for determining whether same gender loving couples deserve equal treatment under the law.

To do so establishes a discriminatory and dangerous public policy precedent that potentially threatens the civil liberties of all people.  As a Christian minister, I believe my role is to live in my faith, not to legislate it, and as long as the State does not seek to regulate the Church, the Church should not seek to regulate the State.

Civil marriage protection for gay and lesbian couples in no way infringes upon the right of religious bodies to define religious marriage as they see fit based upon their traditions, doctrine, and scriptural interpretations.  Religious institutions have always acknowledged the role of the State to provide civil marriage for all citizens regardless of their belief system or religious background. Every union acknowledged by the State, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is a civil marriage, and is not synonymous with religious marriage.

Civil marriages, therefore, do not have the power to determine, delimit, or define how religious institutions treat marriage based upon their own values, beliefs, and scriptural interpretations.

Religious marriage is solely province of a community of faith, and there is no legislative act that can be imposed upon faith communities to acknowledge, sanction, or perform.  Just as the State has no jurisdiction over the theological beliefs, practices, and ordinances of any house of worship, religious institutions should not seek to restrict equal opportunity to others in matters of public policy.

While there are a range of theological views about same sex marriage, all Americans can stand united under the banner of extending civil liberties and justice to all citizens.  People of faith will not allow their theological diversity on this or other issues to be exploited for political gain.

The welfare of our nation rests upon growing our economy, preserving the social safety nets for the poor and the elderly, and creating a civil society of mutuality, tolerance, and respect,” the senior pastor at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church says. He is of the opinion that one’s personal religious beliefs should have no bearing in determining whether other American citizens deserve equal treatment under the law.

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Mitchell Katine, local counsel in Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned sodomy laws in the United States, said he was “thrilled” with the finding by a federal appeals court that California’s ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. He cautioned students at the University of Houston Law Center, however, that the case will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, and that might take a year or two.

Katine and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder of the Ruth Institute, a project of the National Organization for Marriage Education Fund, were debating the issue of “Defining Marriage” as a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced its decision.

“I’m sorry, but not surprised,” Morse said of the court’s ruling. “I think we have a good chance at the Supreme Court,” she added, noting that Katine had mentioned earlier in the debate that he had lost the sodomy case “at every level” before finally prevailing at the Supreme Court.

The appeals court panel ruled 2-1 that California’s ban on same-sex marriages violated the civil rights of gays and lesbians. “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples,” states the opinion written by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, one of the court’s most liberal judges.

The ruling applies only to California and will not go into effect pending a likely appeal to the full 9th Circuit. The Law Center debate was sponsored by The Federalist Society and Outlaw, an organization devoted to the issues of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender students.

The two veterans of the same-sex marriage debate argued the perceived benefits and drawbacks of legalizing gay marriage on society, participants and, specifically, children of such unions.

Morse pointed out “as a cautionary tale,” how no-fault divorce was presented in 1968 as a simple way to lower the cost of divorce for a relatively small number of people. But, she said, it turned out to have a far-reaching effect on society as a whole and undermined the perceived permanence of marriage. Similarly, she argued, legalization of same-sex marriage would undermine basic principles, especially concerning child-rearing.

The significance of marriage as an institution between a man and woman, she said, is how it connects children to their parents and vice versa.  Children are “entitled” to a stable relationship with their parents, she said, and mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Biology is the natural “default mode” of determining parentage, she argued, and legalizing same-sex marriage would be replacing a naturally occurring fact with something created by the state. “The state has no right to interfere.”

Katine countered by saying he and his longtime partner are successfully raising two happy, well adjusted, adopted children. When he asked them what marriage means to them, he said his son answered “family,” and his daughter added that it makes that relationship “permanent.” Katine said, “Gay and lesbian people are not trying to change marriage. We are trying to join marriage.”

He said the procreation argument is specious because many married heterosexual couples choose not to have children, yet enjoy thousands of civil rights and benefits that same-sex couples do not. Citing the First and Fourteenth Amendments, he said the United States was founded on freedom from government intrusion.

And, though religion often plays a large part in debates over same-sex marriage, Katine said, “Advocates are not trying to force civil rights on religions.” Morse later argued that scripture aside, same-sex marriage would affect religious institutions in areas such as employment, benefits, and pre-marital counseling.

Katine said any discussion of gay and lesbian rights, including comments from the Supreme Court bench in his landmark sodomy case, always comes down to the bottom line questions, “Who cares?” and “What’s the harm?” As Lawrence v. Texas, was winding its way through the courts, he said then-President George W. Bush and then-senator Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania,  predicted “the sky would fall” if the nation’s sodomy laws were struck down.

“None of it happened,” Katine said. He predicted same-sex marriage will prevail before the Supreme Court and “ultimately it will show that gay and lesbian parents are good people, and the sky will not fall. I believe I will see in my lifetime same-sex marriage legal and my son will be proud of his family and my daughter will feel it is permanent.”

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Just weeks after failing to collect enough signatures to qualify a referendum that would have sought to repeal the FAIR Education Act, anti-LGBT forces are at it again. Now they’re attempting to collect enough signatures to qualify a November 2012 initiative that would eliminate references to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in California’s landmark education law.

L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean have issued the following statement:

“Without support from deep-pocket funders for their referendum campaign, the anti-gay religious extremists working to overturn the FAIR Education Act couldn’t hire enough paid signature gatherers to collect the more than 500,000 signatures necessary to qualify a referendum that sought to overturn the law.

Having failed once, they’re now attempting to collect enough signatures to qualify a November 2012 ballot initiative that would strip LGBT people from the landmark law.

“There is no doubt they’ll continue to raise the false specter of harm to children as they try to push another discriminatory ballot measure. They want to continue to portray a false version of history—a version that intentionally excludes the real and historic accomplishments of LGBT people. And that is the REAL harm to the next generation.

“The FAIR Education Act simply means that children are entitled to the historical truth. They will learn of such notable figures as Harvey Milk, Billie Jean King, Bayard Rustin and so many other great trailblazers. Learning about these figures and the historical context of their lives will only give children a deeper knowledge of our community’s history of fighting for civil rights.

The lessons learned will help put an end to the epidemic of bullying and violence directed at LGBT youth and may even save lives. Far too many young LGBT people, who don’t recognize their own self-worth, end their lives while still teenagers.

“It is an insult to the people of the great state of California to pedal measures so blatantly designed to stimulate prejudice. If they raise enough money this time, they could succeed in qualifying the measure for next year’s ballot. But that does not mean they will win; we cannot and will not allow them to mislead the people of California about the true nature of the FAIR Education Act.

Our Vote for Equality program, which mobilizes volunteers to talk to voters about LGBT equality, will put its efforts into overdrive. Since Prop 8, we’ve learned an enormous amount about the difference it makes for voters to hear firsthand about the lives of LGBT people and how it influences them to vote in favor of equality. And more people than ever before stand with us today.”

About the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

Since 1971 the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Their wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more.

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This is another victory for the LGBT community, on the road to equality, as time is running out on the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy in the U.S. Military.

“Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.

The 1993 law that disqualified men and women who are gay to serve openly in the military “undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality,”
President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Soon, all men and women in service will be able to serve their country with the pride that they for too long were denied because they had to conceal their sexual preference, Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office explained. “The demise of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ demonstrates that we should not write discrimination into our laws. Now is the time for Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”

Even though this repeal is a big step forward, there are still laws that discriminate against LGBT Americans and their families.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense the policy was reviewed and accredited by Defense Secretary: Leon Panetta, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral: Michael Mullen, and President Barack Obama. Now those who wish to enlist and join the armed forces will no longer need to lie about their sexual orientation in order to do so.

“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been a discriminatory distraction for far too long, and we welcome its repeal once and for all,” said James D. Esseks, director of the ACLU’s LGBT Project.

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end, once and for all September 20, 2011.

“Every American can be proud that our extraordinary troops and their families, like earlier generations that have adapted to other changes, will only grow stronger and remain the best fighting force in the world,” Obama said, “And a reflection of the values of justice and equality that the define us as Americans.”

Even with this new regulation, work must still be done to ensure it is followed and men and women who are openly gay, bisexual, lesbian or Transgender will not be subjected to illegal discrimination.

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Around the world, LGBT persons have committed suicide, got depressed, developed psychological and physiological problems because of rejection and stigmatization in the society.

As a result they are open to limited health care and employment opportunities. Although not so many of them likes being stigmatized and discriminated they still cannot avoid being LGBT persons because It isn’t their mind that’s pushing them to be looked down upon. Their mind is what is making them LGBT.

PSN Newsletter vol 5 (2010) Transgender Today reported from a Transgender interview that,” LGBT is not a fashion trend that anyone can follow it is a thing of the mind that they have absolutely no control over it and that while they physically look like men or women, in their heart they are more of the opposite sex”.

Haven lived in Thailand — a country with the highest number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people tolerated by society however, there is much more to it than being treated equally in the society.

Despite the fact that there has not been any physical assaults recorded or refusal of allowing same sex lovers living and doing things together, Thai LGBT cannot be civil servants, nurses, doctors, politicians nor can they serve in the military.

Many of The African countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Liberia to mention a few being LGBT are seldom mentioned let alone declared in public. To be LGBT here causes a double rejection by your own family and the society at large. Also the strong religious and cultural roots in many of the African countries like Kenya, Cameroun, Republic of Benin and the likes complicate the LGBT community.

While these countries are members of the United Nations they are not complying with U.N. Human Rights Law with regards to people of diverse sexual orientation, and gender identities which can be categorized as: “(a) non-discrimination (b) protection of privacy right and (c) the ensuring of other general human rights to all, regardless of sexual orientation, and gender identity.”

The LGBT communities in the aforementioned countries operate in secrecy for fear of rejection, losing their jobs and family conflict thus, making them fugitives in their own lands.

LGBT cases are crucial around the world. Even with civilization it still seems impossible to overcome however, some Countries and Organizations have come to accept LGBT communities, affording them human rights notable amongst them is the legalization of same sex marriage in Germany, New York City, Massachusetts of the United State and the U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passed recently.

We call on other countries to emulate New York Supreme court, the United Nations and adhere to the words of Barack Obama who spoke on behalf of LGBT persons worldwide on the July 24, 2011.

I sincerely believe that “No culture or religion, translated into prejudice by a government official, religious leaders or lay man, should supersede the basics of humanity and respect for diversity.”

And also the fact that LGBT are a small fraction of the World’s population does not mean that they are wrong at least the majority is not always right.

Zherui WU / Shutterstock.com

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