I did something that makes me feel a proud gay activist today !!!!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 8:17pm

Ok, here is my story. I volunteered to help at the Olympic Games and i am in the group that is going to assist the different countries inside the Olympic Village. There is about 600 of us and we are going to be allocated to the 202 countries that participate in the Games. So, today was the day where they'd announce which country we would be assisting ! I was assigned to Jamaica ! Knowing that Jamaica is one of the few countries that still consider Homosexuality as a crime and that Homophobia and gay bashing are huge in this country, I went to the division manager after the ceremony and said that I refuse to work for Jamaica. When she asked why, i explained that as a gay man I refuse to aide a country which treats my fellow gay people in such a way. She respected my ideological conflict and she promised to reassign me to a more civilised country ! I feel good for what I did ! What do you guys think ?

Take care

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 8:20pm

I think if more people took vocal public stands like this, more inequities would be addressed. Thanks, and good for you!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 8:26pm

and particularly prescient given this news...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3795247.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3795247.stm>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3795247.stm

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 8:28pm

Good for you GMF! That was the right thing to do, in my opinion.

Jose'

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 8:31pm

Dear god, Mambo - I like to keep abreast of things, but that was news to me. As bad it can sometimes seem, there ARE still advantages here.

[Ruffian]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 8:42pm

You did well

GOOD FOR YOU

[secret-soul]

Posted: 6/10/04 at 10:45pm

GMF: great job!

As to the story that Papa linked, my God I had no idea things were the way they are...it sent sickening chills down my spine...jesus.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 5:35am

Thank you guys ! I sure feel good about my action. I know that the Olympic Games are a celebration of unification and peace, but I just can't cooperate with people who oppose laws like that. I know that it is not the Jamaican athletes' fault, but it is my only way of showing my support to the gay people who suffer in this horrible country!
And papa, thank you for the article, it sure was shocking ! The fact that you are a straight man, but so open minded and human makes me respect you and admire you very very much !!! If all straight people were like you, the world would be a better place for everyone :)

Take care Updated On: 6/11/04 at 05:35 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:14am

lol, thanks, greek, but knowing myself like i do i can say with a great deal of certainty that if all straight people were like me we'd have blown the world up long ago!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:18am

Papa, I thought you were a lover, not a fighter.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:20am

Male homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica
But female homosexuality is O.K.? That's strange.
I thought that oral sex was included in sodomy laws.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:30am

i prefer the term "persuader."

[ckeaton]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:48am

Get back to persuading Vish then...

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 12:55pm

When sodomy was illegal in Texas, it was only between two males as the law read. The laws were written so long ago that it basically implies a sexist view that women don't do those things with other women. Or that it doesn't matter.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:18pm

Good for you,GMF, but why stop there? Why not keep informing the people who are assigned to the Jamaican athletes of the situation. Hand out flyers, perhaps with the article linked on the board printed on them. Maybe others will follow in your footsteps. The more people who are aware of this the better! Good luck, and keep standing up for equality.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 6:19pm

Actually they don't think of women as individuals @ all. Except Mama of course. The rest are just there to cook, clean & make babies. Sigh.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 8:25pm

Bravo and a thousand congratulations!

[dramaqueen]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 12:41pm

nice job! This post makes me look at america quite differently hmmmmmm *ponders life*

[boborunstheshow]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:46pm

I'll bet thats what you wish you had done once they found you and started beating you with plantain bannanas (all the while missing the irony)

Updated On: 6/13/04 at 06:46 PM

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:49pm

okay, I wish I could say "You are such an amazing person for doing that." and sound original on this board. :)
but i sincerely mean it.
thank you.
-d.b.j-

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 8:05pm

Thank you all ! I want you all to understand that I didn't put up the post in order to be praised, but it sure is nice to hear your approval for my action. I just wanted to let you know, because it made me feel good and I wanted to share it with my beloved forum members !!! It was the first time i actually had to take a public stand like that, because, honestly, Greece is a great place to be gay and there is not a lot of need for gay activism except on a few minor incidents ! There is ABSOLUTELY no gay bashing here and gay people are free to express themselves without feeling threatened ! Of course it is not a paradise, but hearing so many things about incidents in other countries, even in the US, i feel lucky to live here ! Plus, our guys are gorgeous and most of the straight hunks are bi-curious