Enormous Cruise Ship With 2.100 Male Gays...

[Jingthing]

I have thoughts I might wish to express, but I rather not.

Spread the word if it makes the world a better place.

Good sentiments, lets spread it on THICK.

[isanbirder]

And of course all the US Pride marches did so much for your servicemen.

That's about to happen. Obviously, activism takes on many forms, coming out publicly, focused demonstrations, pride parades, voting, legislation, court battles, lobbying, political action groups, etc. etc.

Heaven preserve us from US style activism. This does not necessarily suit every country, Jingthing. Different cultures, different ways of doing things. Thailand, where we all live at the moment, would not respond well to many of these things.

[Jingthing]

And of course all the US Pride marches did so much for your servicemen.

That's about to happen. Obviously, activism takes on many forms, coming out publicly, focused demonstrations, pride parades, voting, legislation, court battles, lobbying, political action groups, etc. etc.

Heaven preserve us from US style activism. This does not necessarily suit every country, Jingthing. Different cultures, different ways of doing things. Thailand, where we all live at the moment, would not respond well to many of these things.

I totally disagree with you. The Thai gay activists have accomplished very little. It's like they aren't even trying. Compare to the South African gay activists who achieved historic rights in their constitution that is a model for the entire world. Too much mai bpen rai here. At this rate, Thai gays won't achieve equality for 500 years. I know the Thai gay activists did DISCREETLY try to get sexual orientation equality written into one of the recent new constitutions. They failed and failed miserably, and no news about their efforts since. How do you know that peaceful rally of 100,000 Thai gays demanding equality wouldn't have had a positive impact? I think too many of you are pathetic defeatists, let's just wait until master decides to give us some rights. NO! You must demand and demand and demand, as long as it takes, and don't stop.

Edited August 9, 2010 by Jingthing

[JohnLeech]

And of course all the US Pride marches did so much for your servicemen.

That's about to happen. Obviously, activism takes on many forms, coming out publicly, focused demonstrations, pride parades, voting, legislation, court battles, lobbying, political action groups, etc. etc.

"About to ........" ??

22 out of the 26 NATO countries already allow gays and lesbians (and in many cases transexuals) to serve openly. Israel has done so since 1993; even Russia since 2003! All without any demonstrations, parades, etc, etc - just simple common sense and an awareness of changes in society. Two qualities that JT and his ilk clearly lack.

[endure]

And of course all the US Pride marches did so much for your servicemen.

That's about to happen. Obviously, activism takes on many forms, coming out publicly, focused demonstrations, pride parades, voting, legislation, court battles, lobbying, political action groups, etc. etc.

"About to ........" ??

22 out of the 26 NATO countries already allow gays and lesbians (and in many cases transexuals) to serve openly. Israel has done so since 1993; even Russia since 2003! All without any demonstrations, parades, etc, etc

Just a visit to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of UK servicemen.

[JohnLeech]

Very true, however it was done with no demands, demonstrations or parades and by simply following due process through the courts. It should also be noted that, although it would have taken longer had there been no case made to the ECHR in 1999, the ban clearly would have been lifted; the question was being discussed openly and even formally debated within the military, for example at the Army Staff College, over ten years before that.

Unfortunately when the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the US military is removed next year (an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2011 was passed on May 27, 2010 by the House of Representatives, 234-194, at the same time as the Armed Services Committee approved the same amendment16-12) will be as much an insult to those gays who have and are serving with honour in the military as it will be a victory for the "gay lobby".

It comes not only at a time when the US military's recruiting and retention is at an all-time low (as it is in the British Army, for similar reasons), but when being simply reported as admitting to being gay was (until March 25) sufficient grounds for dismissal - a process opposed by many of the more pragmatic senior military, who realised that it was being abused as one of the ways of avoiding operational military service by serving military and National Guard alike. More importantly, as it puts the place of gays firmly into perspective in the US, it comes some years after the ban on those with a number of criminal convictions serving in the military was lifted - hardly something to be proud of.

Edited August 11, 2010 by JohnLeech