Don't be afraid to write your Lawmakers...

I have always felt that in addition to voting, we all have a responsibility to let our elected officials (whether or not we voted for them) know how we feel as their constituents...

Most times you contact them, you will get a  "canned" response to your stance.  These are not always bad, in responding, you at least get the impression they took notice...  

This is a response I received today from an email I sent Senator Warner several weeks ago:

Dear Mr. Rimington,

Thank you for contacting me with your views on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. In order to best represent you as your United States Senator, it is vital that I hear your views on this and other important matters.

In 1993, President Clinton, in conjunction with senior military leadership and the Senate and House Armed Service Committees, instituted the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which bars openly gay and lesbian individuals from serving in the military.  On January 27, 2010, President Obama said in the State of the Union Address that he plans to work with senior military leadership and Congress to repeal the 1993 law.

Since then, the Senate Armed Services Committee has held a series of hearings to address the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and has solicited the views of the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and each of the Service Chiefs.  The Committee then passed a provision that would provide the Department of Defense the ability to repeal the policy after concurrence from the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the repeal would not negatively impact readiness. The House of Representatives passed a similar version in their FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Bill that also includes repeal. The bill has yet to come before the whole Senate for a vote. 

I support repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in an orderly way, working with members of the uniformed services and our military leadership.   Given the complexity and sensitivity of the matter, I believe we must place great weight on the opinions of our military leadership and ensure that we are treating all service members with dignity and respect. 

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me with your views. I will continue to keep your thoughts in mind as the situation unfolds.  As we move forward with the 111th Congress, please continue to be in touch with your opinions and concerns.

Sincerely,

MARK R. WARNER

United States Senator  

It's always a pleasure to get a  response, regardless of it's timeliness and also nice to see there was some thought in the response...

Over and "Out" from the RED State of Virginia, here in Portsmouth.

Maybe this is the "Happy Place"

Ok maybe this is my "Happy Place" I have never seen the video, but OMG what fine looking dancers she recruited to get this "off"...

From my "Happy Place" in Portsmouth, VA, I am over and "Out"

Finding a "Happy Place"...

Finding a "Happy Place" seems to be more and more difficult these days...  Michael makes me happy, work makes me happy, my friends at work and home make me happy, my blogging friends make me happy, my family makes me happy, and so on... and so on...  Why is it that I have no "Happy Place" to take refuge in?

Things at work right now are still up in the air...  I have experienced many anxiety attacks over the past few days for some reasons that are obvious and for others less conspicuous...  I dream every night about things in my past. Dreams that have no bearing on anything happening in my life right now.  They are vivid and I remember most of them.  They are intense enough that I have hit, kicked, and spoken to Michael in the middle of the night without due cause...

I feel more like Nemo and Dora in the photo above, than the starfish in the tank looking for that "Happy Place"... 

I know this will pass, I know I have a great partner, friends, and family...  I'm guessing I have inherited the family gene that makes us prone to depression...  My happy place might be making other people feel miserable while I try to locate it...

Sorry Michael, and yes I still love you, and am in love with you!

Over, "Out", and searching for my happy place, in Portsmouth, VA

To go, or not to go? To fight, or not to?

I was advised yesterday that my position (at the store I work at) is being eliminated... I met with the company's regional manager and we discussed the options...

Personally, I think this man is a total homophobe and not only racist but sexist as well...  He has offered no help to the two women Store Managers in his region... Ever...  It's almost like he wants them to fail...  I just happen to work for one of them and he knew when he promoted me into this spot, that I was gay...

I looked, not too long ago for a position up in our Philly market, while it was truly not for the promotion, it was more honestly to get myself out of this man's region...   Our company has invested alot of money in introducing the middle management folks (ie: Regional Managers) to this new philosophy of BOP (Business of People). I have read alot of the information, and it's a very positive way to manage and communicate with your people. Unfortunately, my Regional Manager doesn't get it...  Our company has been known for years to manage with an iron fist and threats, but the owners of the company decided that perhaps that was not the best way to keep strong loyal employees...

My dilemma is, do I take the position (tunnels and bridges away) in Newport News, or do I fight this thing for the possible inappropriate (and against our company's policy) discriminatory behavior on the part of our Regional Manager (because there is alot more I am not putting in here)?

Over and "Out" from what could have been a relaxing day off, in Portsmouth, VA

New Link...

I found this through a visitor to "My New Life".  All I can say is I wish I had the resources to compile this information:

The Closet Professor

Check it out... It's truly a great encylopedia of GLBT history and information...

Over and "Out" from my protected little world here in Portsmouth, VA

One Small Step + 41 Years...

I can't believe it was 41 years today that Neil Armstrong uttered those words...  I was living in Coral Gables, FL at the time, and my memories of the event are not unlike those in the Ron Howard film "Apollo 13", all gathered around the newly developed "COLORED" TV, only to see Black & White video from the lunar surface...

As an avid "Space Nut" I am glad to see some recent support of things to come with the ISS and possible expeditions further into our solar system...

I am off tomorrow and will probably post more frivolity but, for now I remain "Out" in Portsmouth, VA

Owl City... Another CRUSH!

I know... I have crushes every week...  and I posted this tomorrow, but musician/music/performance crushes don't count...  enjoy...

Over and "Crushingly OUT" from "the commonwealth of VAGINA"