Monday, August 1, 2011

Re: [Peckers_Pics] Male/Gay Health-Discussion-PICS Twink Wars-Aug 2, 2011-Boycott Trump-TARGET-FOX NEWS/Murdoch-Salvation Army



Wow Jake, this is an amazing story here.

I was known as church boy in my home. I was a good kid, scholastically inclined, always doing good things. Not a problem to anyone.

My cousin is a Minister in the COGIC (Church of God In Christ) and through her I learned of Christianity even deeper than I had prior. From at least 9-14, I was a committed Christian, always wanting to do more be more godly, I wanted to be a Pastor and work with youth because I thought: I want to be a Father figure to a child who has no Father. Having grown up with a distant Stepfather, I wanted to make sure that other kids could have me to look up to and admire.

When I was 19, I came out to my parents, they cried, they told me it was a phase. Around 20, I went to a Pentecostal church that even passed a resolution that they will not go to same sex weddings or officiate such. I told the Pastor that I want to sort things out with my sexuality and he said that I'd have to stop doing all ministerial work such as altar work, Sunday School and Youth Ministry work although I was always the assistant to the Youth Leader. I was almost like an apprentice for when he left.

After a while, I was openly gay in the church and I just let it be known that I'm a gay man and I'm not going to hide it, but not mention it every day. I even brought my then ex bf (we stayed close no matter what) and they found out, or rather knew by how we interacted with one another

After trying to do the ex gay thing. Darryl (the on and off again boyfriend) and I both tried to do it, just leave it alone but as we started talking about the things we wanted it was apparent that the only thing that made sense was to be together. I tried to juggle church and being gay and then one day during September or so in 2010, I missed a service and stopped going altogether. I hated hearing about homosexuals and how it was wrong, and disgusting, perversion, etc as if we were all out to get little boys and all those crazy things that we hear in churches. I also stepped down from a Christian acting group after my activism for marriage equality in NY was revealed. The only thing they DIDN'T do was hit me over the head with the Bible. I didn't even tell them that I was gay because I would've been doused with holy water and an exorcism would've been performed with shouting, sweating and bright lights.

So, I have Christian thoughts and beliefs but I can't say I am eager to step into a church. I have found about denominations like the United Church of Christ, Reform Judaism and Unity Fellowship Church that has embraced LGBT people, but after the spiritual abuse I've suffered I'm kind of ambivalent to church although I have to say now I am not afraid to call out anti gay Christians that will spew homophobia. I stand with Dan Savage when he says: If you don't want to be looked at as bigoted, then you confront your leaders about their bigotry.

Call out Eddie Long, Ted Haggard, George Alan Rekers, Ed Schrock, and other Christian, pro family, etc, conservatives who want to dictate to people how to live their lives but don't want anyone to do the same to them.

I like being in church but time will heal the wounds of abuse I've suffered in the place that I thought would embrace me as a human being   

From: Jake <jakewest_tn@yahoo.com>
To: Peckers_Pics@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 8:13 PM
Subject: [Peckers_Pics] Male/Gay Health-Discussion-PICS Twink Wars-Aug 2, 2011-Boycott Trump-TARGET-FOX NEWS/Murdoch-Salvation Army

 
Twink Wars-PICS-Health-News-Aug 2, 2011-
"NO" Religious Discussion / Safe PICS For All Ages/
Boycott Trump-TARGET-FOX NEWS/Murdoch-Salvation Army
Support Keith Olbermann's show "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" - new on "CURRENT TV" (air's nightly @ 8 PM EST (Mon - Fri). About time - as we need progressive un-censored news! Replays at 11 PM Eastern and 2 AM Eastern.

Alert: Target + Minnesota Forward + Tom Emmer = Support for a rather dangerous and radical political philosophy that diminishes LGBT people to pests that should be murdered. And "Target" is cool with this? In San Diego we peacefully canvassed customers near their stores. In return, TARGET is suing the LGBT community for voicing our right of FREE SPEECH! Now, Target lost in court! David beat Goliath! Return everything you bought to TARGET and tell them why! ....Boycott TARGET!!!!!
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Diet & Fitness:
  • Reminder: Did you complete your Diet Journal today?
  • Did you do any physical activity? If not, make a point of it by tomorrow!
  • Perhaps our male fitness photos shall inspire you to get Fit!
Health - Wellness - Exercise - Reflections:  "Special Alert"
Syphilis up among minority gay, bisexual men

By Amy Norton - Aug 1, 2011, Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The rising U.S. syphilis rate appears to be disproportionately striking minority gay and bisexual men, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Monday.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can be easily cured with antibiotics in the early stages. But many people do not have symptoms early on, or don't recognize the symptoms, and continue to transmit the infection.

In the U.S., syphilis has been on the rise since 2000, when the national rate hit an all-time low of 2.1 cases per 100,000 people.

That increase has been largely among men, who had a rate of just under 8 cases per 100,000 in 2009 (versus 1.4 cases per 100,000 women), according to the CDC. And studies have suggested that gay and bisexual men now account for a majority of new syphilis cases.

Health officials are concerned about the resurgence not only because of syphilis itself, but also because the infection makes people more vulnerable to contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Now the new findings, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, show that minorities -- and young men, in particular -- are being hit hardest by syphilis.

Using data from 27 states, CDC researchers found that between 2005 and 2008, the syphilis rate among black gay and bisexual men rose at an 8-times faster clip compared with their white counterparts.

Hispanic gay and bisexual men, meanwhile, had more than twice the increase of white men.

By 2008, the syphilis rate among black gay and bisexual men was 19 per 100,000. Those figures were just over 7 per 100,000 among Hispanic men, and 4 per 100,000 among white men.

What's more, the CDC says, there has been a shift in the age group most affected by syphilis. Ten years ago, outbreaks of the STD were largely reported among gay and bisexual men in their 30s.

But since 2005, teenagers and men in their 20s have shown the biggest increase in syphilis cases. And 20- to 29-year-olds had the highest rates in 2008 -- at around 12 cases per 100,000.

Racial disparities in syphilis and other STDs have long been seen among U.S. men in general. So the current findings are not especially surprising.

But the magnitude of the racial gap in this study is concerning, said lead researcher Dr. John R. Su, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC.

It's hard to pin down the precise reasons, Su told Reuters Health in an interview.

But he said it could reflect factors like lower incomes and education levels, and poorer access to healthcare -- in other words, some of the same race-related disparities seen among Americans in general.

As for young gay and bisexual men, some recent studies suggest that they are increasingly engaging in risky sex, including having unprotected intercourse and multiple partners.

The bottom line for gay and bisexual men is awareness, according to Su.

"First, you have to know you're at risk," he said. "Then have a frank discussion about it with your healthcare provider."

It's recommended that all sexually active gay and bisexual men be tested at least once a year for syphilis and other STDs, including HIV and gonorrhea, Su said. Staying in a monogamous relationship with a partner whose been tested, and using condoms consistently, reduce the chances of contracting syphilis and other STDs.

But the recent re-emergence of syphilis may require "novel" public-health responses, according to an editorial published with the study.

"For example, many MSM (men who have sex with men) with newly diagnosed syphilis or HIV met their sexual partners recently on the Internet," write Dr. Kenneth H. Mayer and Matthew J. Mimiaga of the Boston-based Fenway Institute, which specializes in healthcare for gay, bisexual and transgender patients.

So education and screening efforts, they say, need to target men where they go: online, and at clubs, bars and bathhouses.

Su agreed that more-innovative steps, like using the Internet or text-messaging to spread health messages, are promising.

He also pointed to programs that use "peer educators" -- lay people who are trained to help get health messages out to their local community.

Along with getting regular screening, at-risk men should know the potential signs of syphilis infection. The first is usually a single painless sore on the genitals, rectum or mouth (wherever the bacterium entered the body). Some weeks after that, a non-itchy rash may develop on different parts of the body. Some people also have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, body aches and swollen glands.

About 15 percent of people with untreated syphilis eventually develop long-term complications, according to the CDC. Those include damage to the brain, nerves, heart and blood vessels that can prove fatal.
Take Action:
  • Boycott advertisers of Glenn Beck's radio show and his quest spots on Fox News. Glenn Beck is anti-gay rights. Update: Boycott Successful: Update 4/7/2011: Beck has been fired by FOX NEWS! Radio stations dropping Beck as well in several locations. Now, tell FOX to stop having Beck as a Guest.
  • Update: DADT has been repealed. President Obama has kept his promise!
  • Boycott Bill O'Reilly and FOX News and their advertisers. Bill discussed a French commercial by McDonalds that was meant to show that McDonalds is Gay Friendly. Bill said what is next? Is McDonalds going to be Al-Qaida friendly as well? Imagine - Bill O'Reilly compares Gays to Al-Qaida! Boycott Fox's Owner "Rupert Murcoch" and get him thrown in jail for illegal - political donations, corruption, greed, bribery, hacking!
  • Boycott Arizona the home of "hater" - U.S. Senator John McCain. Arizona's Hateful anti-Immigration Law - encourages racial profiling and increases hatred towards minorities. A remedy: Demand Republicans to support Immigration Reform (The Dream Act). Further, Senator McCain voted against ending DADT and Blocked Immigration reform!
  • Boycott Target, Best Buy, Gold's Gym - for donating money towards anti-gay political candidates/organizations. Update: (12/26/2010): Target is continuing to donate to anti-gay groups/causes/politicians. Update 03/08/11 - Lady Gaga Ends Target Partnership, Reportedly Over Target's Poor LGBT Stance. Update 3/25/2010 - Target displays their hypocrisy and Sues California Gay Rights Group for Lobbying Outside Stores. Target is attempting to block the LGBT right of free speech! STOP SHOPPING AT TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Update 4/8/2011: Target lost its case to stop the LGBT from canvassing in front of their stores. A huge PR Disaster for TARGET! Perhaps Target should go out of business as they betrayed their investers and customer base. Target contributed massive funds to a politician who would like to exterminate gays. Now, Target can not stop us from Boycotting them, nor picketing, nor talking to customers near their stores; although, Target allows a anti-gay company such as the Salvation Army to stand outside their door and speak with customers and raise money. Isn't this a double standard?
  • End DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). Prevents Federal employees and Gays in the Military from gaining equal benefits. Prevents Gay Partners from gaining equal benefits.
  • Pass ENDA (Employee Non-Discrimination Act). ENDA would prevent employment discrimination of LGBT workforce.
  • Boycott Salvation Army as they will not hire Gays! "DO NOT DONATE TO THEM."
  • BOYCOTT "Chick-fil-a" for donating to anti-gay marriage groups.
  • BOYCOTT KOCH INDUSTRIES PRODUCTS- to include their products: Angel Soft toilet paper / Brawny paper towels / Dixie plates, bowls, napkins & cups / Mardi Gras napkins and towels / Quilted Northern toilet paper / Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper / Sparkle napkins / Vanity fair napkins / Zee napkins / Georgia-Pacific paper products & envelopes / All Georgia-Pacific lumber & building products (INVISTA Products) / Lycra / Stainmaster Carpet. The billionaire - Koch brothers are ultra republican - tea bag founders/supporters that do not support causes of the LGBT community.
  • Boycott WALMART - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, force criticized Wal-Mart for denying employee benefits to same-s-x partners and for failing to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. By comparison, the group said two other chain stores with a strong presence in New York, Costco and Walgreens, did much better.
  • Remember David Kato, Gay activist - Uganda, who was slain because he is gay!
  • "Tune Out Trump", Boycott all Trump Hotel, casinos, holdings, The Apprentice and NBC Network! At CPAC, Trump said he is considering a run for president as a Republican. In a interview with the Des Moines Register, Trump added that he opposes all forms of legal recognition for gay couples, not just marriage. "They should not be able to marry," he said. So why does NBC keep the Apprentice when Donald Trump has stated he may run for president? After making racist remarks about Obama and recv'g public backlash, Trump decided not to run for president after NBC renewed his awful TV Show. How can NBC re-new the clown's show after he pulled such hateful shenanigans? Boycott NBC! Boycott advertisers of The Apprentice and Trump's other business's. Don't shop at any bullding with Donald Trump's name to include Trump Hotels, Casinos, Condo's, Offices, Shops! The Donald has expressed extreme Hatred towards gays and blacks with his birther remarks and anti-gay rhetoric. Remember how poorly Trump treated Rosie O'Donnel? Now we know why he did that! It was hate against a lesbian as we now know he is biget. Unforgiveable! Again, Dump NBC because they air/re-newed Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"! Now the Donald Claims the Long Form Birth certificate is a fraud. And NBC keeps this guy?
And Now, Our War of the Fittest!
This group is called "Peckers Pics." The English - slang definition of "pecker" is to pluck at the truth. Therefore, we peck at items such as Gay Men's Health, Male Fitness, Gay (LGBT) Politics & Issues. In this section you may peck at each photo in order to decide the winner of the "war of the fittest!" Whereas, you should select the guy that may inspire you to exercise and "get fit!" Warning: This may stoke you!
Your participation in discussion of health / news articles - appearing in this message is greatly appreciated.
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You Decide!
Vancouver Pride; July 31, 2011
Stoked?
Paris Pride; Jun 25, 2011
Super Stoked?
Paris Pride; Jun 25, 2011
Acutely Stoked?
Vancouver Pride; July 31, 2011
Dangerously Stoked?
Vancouver Pride; July 31, 2011
Who Would Dare Argue This Gay Man Isn't Christian?
John Shore - Huffington Post - Aug 1, 2011

By way of refuting the conviction that homosexuality and Christianity are (so to speak) fundamentally incompatible, I (via LGBT Christians: Tell Evangelicals (And The Rest of the World) Your Story) am collecting stories wherein LGBT Christians testify about their own experiences reconciling identity with faith.

One such letter recently submitted for this project is below. If you can come away from reading this letter still believing that it's impossible for a person to be both fully gay and fully Christian, then all I can say is that I hope your lobotomy didn't leave behind too unsightly a scar.

I was once a proud Evangelical, African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Christian, the son of an AME Zion preacher, and ready to answer the call on my life to ministry. Once the faith of my father became my own, I felt a denominational identity was too constricting. I simply called myself an Evangelical Christian. This was despite the fact that I was tremendously hurt and confused by the near-daily abuse I suffered at the hands of Christian school classmates, with taunts of "faggot," "girly," "gay-gay," etc.

Clearly, everyone else had figured out my sexual orientation before I had. When I thought about the fact that, unlike my 13-year-old counterparts, I didn't seem to be interested in girls, and that I longed to be close to and have sex with boys, I immediately reasoned, "But I can't be gay, because Christians aren't gay, and I'm a Christian!" It was just a phase. I was not gay.

This "phase" lasted several years (despite desperate pleas to an almighty God who would no doubt free me of this "sin" that I wanted no part of anymore than He did). After struggling with a four-year addiction to gay porn, in my senior year of college I was forced to acknowledge that this must be more than a mere phase. I did what any good, Evangelical Christian would: I sought help. After a night of bingeing on porn, I tapped out the words "gay and Christian" on the keyboard, and came across Exodus International, a ministry dedicated to helping men and women overcome "unwanted same-sex attractions."

Initially, discovering Exodus gave me hope and encouragement. I went along under the notion that this was no phase, but that it was manageable, and conquerable. I dove into ministry: Bible study founder/leader in college, president of the Christian group at pharmacy school, volunteering with the youth ministry at my local Assembly of God church.

Yet the more I explored my sexual attractions, the more dismayed I became. I fervently desired a Godly relationship with a woman, to be a dad; I yearned to live the Evangelical, American dream.

What I could not shake, though, was the debilitating loneliness that overshadowed every aspect of my life, despite a loving family, a wonderful girlfriend, a supportive ex-gay community, an adept counselor, great accountability partners, service to others, leadership in ministry, a local church community, incessant prayer, indomitable determination, and innumerable ex-gay resources. As I became increasingly aware of my unchanging orientation, the insufficient satisfaction of opposite gender intimacy, and the idea that this meant a lifetime of misery without true companionship, my depression and anxiety grew, until I was ready for God to just take me home. I simply did not want to exist anymore ... and begged God to have mercy on me by ending this.

I wish I could say that my Christian community responded in Christ-like ways to me when I revealed my "struggles with same-sex attraction." And there surely were those who incarnated Christ to me. But more commonly the responses ranged from indifference to muted disgust (and everything in between).

In one pivotal encounter, I had lunch with the youth pastor at my Assembly of God church. I was sharing with him my disappointment with the way in which my revelation was received by the other young adults in the church with whom I was desperate to bond (after all, the ex-gay mantra was that "healing comes by forging healthy, same-sex relationships"). I bemoaned the fact that some were nonplussed, some were cool but silent (leaving me to wonder where I actually stood with them), and some took it upon themselves to preach to me, thinking this was "encouragement."

What was my pastor's response to my discouragement? He spent the next hour and a half chiding me for being upset, and preaching to me about the evils of homosexuality. The obvious offense (treating me in a manner expressly as I had just complained about being treated by others) was only magnified by the fact that he was well aware of my dad's ordination in ministry, my years spent in Bible classes at Christian schools, and my extensive knowledge of Scripture. Perhaps most damaging of all was his insistence that I no longer serve with the youth (which he had originally mandated prior to our lunch date). I cannot express how belittled and useless I felt. My love for God, my gifts, my talents counted for naught so long as I had difficulties dealing with my sexuality. I left lunch that day feeling more disparaged than when we started.

I was never an Evangelical after that. In fact, here I stand six years later, and there are times when it is difficult for me to associate myself with Christianity at all. After hearing my protracted story, religious and irreligious people alike often ask me in befuddled exasperation: "How are you still a Christian? Why do you still go to church?!" And frankly, I have yet to articulate a satisfactory answer. As best I can tell though, it is rooted in my abiding love for Jesus. I am compelled by the life and teachings of Jesus. I strive to live The Way of Jesus, and bring the Kingdom of Peace and Love here to earth. And yet, every day it is a struggle to hold onto that shred of faith when so many other self-proclaimed Christians adamantly declare my apostasy and condemnation to hell for daring to love in the way that comes naturally to me. (The more enlightened folks are civil enough to quietly suggest I'm "not in God's will," and they're praying for me to see the light and truly know Him. This in no way feels patronizing. Really. *sarcasm*)

I profusely thank God for the emerging church I discovered around the time of that fateful lunch. Up until that point, I had a subtle but nagging twist in my gut at every church I had ever attended. It was in experiencing such love and comfort at this new church that I was finally able to verbalize what I felt all those years: that I was not safe and accepted as I was. At last, I was blessed to have been led to a community of believers who would walk alongside me, instead of ahead of me; who would ask questions with me, instead of dictating beliefs to me. It was in this community that I was able to salve the wounds of bitterness and jadedness that had pervaded my soul.

I don't know that I'll ever be an Evangelical again. I'm not sure if I can even maintain the identity "Christian," given all the baggage that seems to accompany the word. All I know is that I hope for the day when I can be seen by the Church (universal) as being equal to all others in the Body of Christ, and worthy of sharing my gifts in faithful service -- not despite my sexuality, but because I am a gay Christian, beloved of God.
Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."
....Jake
 
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�Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges.�

...Jake (Moderator)



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