an email from a reader today is relevant to this discussion it says.

Just briefly to tell you I have just purchased your ‘new beaut book’. I have got to say it looks good….. if one should judge a

book by it’s cover. Have not read it yet, but I am chuffed to know

you valued my original email so much in response to first reading

your book, to place me at the head of the ‘quotes’! I tell many

people about the huge step I took on my journey of accepting a gay son the day I read your book. I will never forget it ….. your courageous story was both inspiring & a revelation to me. Anthony I know I have told you before….. but I just want to thank you again & again.

Take good care & keep up the good fight.

here is my response

Hi ……..its great to hear form you as always….and your wonderful worlds of encouragement. Fancy you getting a mention…..you are famous….i hope you are happy with that.

I really hope you like the new edition…….some of the changes are subtle…..but I have actually rewritten every page….plus so much more helpful information…..I hope. Ultimately people such as yourself will be the judges…..after all…..if the reader doesn’t get it then I’ve failed to communicate. My feeling is this is more gutsy, deeper emotionally and more informative. I’d value your honest feedback on that.

Your feeling is right about the parade. Its an opinion shared by many both in the straight and surprisingly in the gay world as well. I ask people “What do you have to judge the parade on?” Usually its the same that most Australians have to judge it on. That is……what they see in the media. Tits bums and outrageousness……but that is only actually a small portion of the parade. The majority of the parade is made up of community groups such PFLAG ACON….the list is endless but the media never shows that Janet because its not sensational. For many it is a very emotional experience……..and the media never shows that. I’ve cried watching the parade. I’ve cried going in it as well. It wasn’t the tits and bums that made me cry……it was ordinary people like me who were marching for a more noble purpose. Freedom 2 b(e) will be marching this year for the first time remember all those young people and other who have suicided in churches because they felt condemned, abandoned, rejected etc…..because they were homosexual.

I just heard two more tragic stories this week. One young Christian man jumped of a bridge in the Blue Mountains onto a highway. He spent 18 months in hospital recovering from the injuries. He is doing fine now and attends Hillsong. Even though he is not open about being gay as I am but it seems his connect group have assumed he is and has now been excluded from the groups activities. But he will be okay.

The other young man we lost. He put his head on the railway track near the Sutherland railway station. We’ll be marching for people such as that and hopefully let others see that they need not hide or feel ashamed and possibly stop some of the needless suffering. Has your son ever told you about the times he thought of possibly ending his life. Maybe he didn’t ……but if he didn’t he is fortunate as I’ve found it is common for a same sex attracted person from our Pentecostal backgrounds.

For us gay pride is very real because we spent so many years feeling ashamed. Its incredibly liberating and empowering to march and say I’m proud of who I am and I’m no longer ashamed. I know that is difficult for many heterosexuals to understand. Its easier to judge. I’m sure your son will shed more light on this when you speak to him before and after the parade.

The question you and others raise has been recently discussed in our forum. http://www.freedom2b.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3068

Please feel free to contribute your thoughts if you’d like……we’d love to hear from you.

I hope some of what I’ve said helps.

Anything I need to clarify then just ask……or give me a call. I’d love to chat with you about it if that would help.

Anthony

possibly a nasty heterosexual……hehe

but then again…..heterosexuals and homosexuals can both be stupid and unpleasant under the influence of too much alcohol. Mostly the crowd is pretty good.

From PFLAG in brisbane

*************************************

AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY

M E D I A R E L E A S E

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For immediate release: Fri 23 Feb 2007

***************************************

MARDI GRAS A REMINDER TO FIX SAME-SEX COUPLE LAWS.

Still no reforms a year after poll found most Australians support equality.

The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) says next week’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a timely reminder that same-sex couples still face inequality and financial discrimination in Federal law and these laws should be fixed.

ACE also says Mardi Gras marks a year on from a landmark Newspoll showing that the Howard Government is at odds with a majority of Australians, who indicated they want the Federal Government to fix discrimination against same-sex couples.

The Newspoll survey found a majority of 52.5 per cent supported formalised recognition of same-sex couples in federal law, while 36.6 per cent opposed such reform.

ACE spokesperson Rod Swift said that same-sex couples and their families have suffered yet another year of financial and social disadvantage.

“Despite all the spectacle and mirth at next weekend’s Mardi Gras parade, it is a timely reminder that same-sex couples are still disallowed full enjoyment of the human rights that heterosexuals take for granted,” Mr Swift said.

“Last year the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission conducted an inquiry into the gross levels of discrimination faced by same-sex couples and their families, and we expect the report to detail shocking levels of unwarranted discrimination that needs fixing.”

“Mardi Gras should be a wake-up call to all Australians that the Howard Government can fix many of the inequalities by amending laws where de facto heterosexual couples are recognised to include same-sex couples too.”

“And it’s another reminder the Howard Government still hasn’t honoured its promise from 2004 to fix superannuation laws for Commonwealth public servants.”

Meanwhile, ACE has welcomed the results of a new GLBTI community survey by the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW GLRL) which has found strong support for federal law reforms, including extending marriage rights to same-sex couples.

This brings NSW GLRL into line with other state lobbies on Federal law reform models.

“Lobby groups from each state now agree that there are many ways to fix the problems in recognising same-sex couples in both Federal law and under the laws of the different states and territories,” Mr Swift said.

“This can be achieved easiest by removing the bar on same-sex couples from marrying, as has been done in many other countries around the world.”

“Other options include creating civil unions recognised by both state and federal governments, or by amending de facto couple laws to cover same-sex couples and their families.”

“It’s time the states, territories and the Federal Government worked towards a common framework for recognising non-marital couples from other jurisdictions.”

MEDIA COMMENT:

Rod Swift 0417 890 111 [email protected]

[ends]

I suppose a new way to look at mardi Gras is this, its a way for people not to forget about us and the hardships we face because of an Orientation.

Substitute “not forget” to “rub ones face in it”.

Even as a gay man, I have found the parade and the rest of the nights activities offensive, as well as a number of items in the Mardi Gras festival program. It merely re-enforces the stereotypes of what a gay/bi/intersexed person is as makes life difficult for those of us who don’t live such lifestyles yet are already “pigeonholed” by others upon the discovery of ones sexual orientation.

Hmmm i liked the idea of both “not to forget” and “rub their face in it” the mardi gras has both… smile.

My own experience of it is just amazing to be there… it’s more of a celebration of oursleves, that we have what it takes. I was never offended by the parade because if you look closely, each person has a story to tell and it takes great guts to get out there and march. I’m not exactly that brave yet. Next year (hold me to that promise please) I will march in the Freedom2be group. This year I have too much happening around me and I’m still feeling raw from my recent church … so in spirit will be cheering you all and praying for a total experience.

I always thought it depends on individuality… I mean… Im an optimistic person and if someone piled a huge pile of horse manure I’d be excited at the prospect that there’s a pony somewhere… I never look down… always looking upwardss. With the Mardi Gras… I look up to people who are so brave to get out there and show the world. Smile. I have so much admiration.

To me, Mardi Gras is a celebration of life. It has its own magic that creates inner changes within each one of us – that in itself is a small miracle.

Good night everyone and may God protect and cover you all.

Craig.