"Politics as usual..."

The words flew out of my mouth entirely too fast: "If I had to choose between
cutting PBS/NPR funding and getting rid of bargaining rights for public employees,
I'd have to cut PBS/NPR." And after I'd made that statement during a somewhat-
lively debate with my father, I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry. Dad
looked almost relieved when I said that; it was as if my statement signaled that I
was slowly losing my Liberal ideology. To that, I'll use the words of our forty-first
president:

"Not gunna do it...wouldn't be prudent."

Gov. Scott Walker (R ((what else?))-Wisconsin), didn't exactly have prudence in
mind when he unleashed his full-frontal attack on unions, in an apparently rather
pro-union state. All governors and legislatures have the responsibility to budget,
save money and be pro-active when it comes to reducing shortfalls. Unfortunately,
the Governor made a bone-headed move when he went after the unions. You just
don't assail an already-economically challenged group of people, thinking that
they'll just bend over and take it. You cut services like NPR, PBS, state parks
and other 'extras'. You don't cut essential benefits. Gov. Walker could've taken a
lesson from ex-Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher: mess with the unions, and you only
serve one term. Gov. Walker has only been in office for less than three months.
But when he signed that ridiculous and controversial bill, he also signed his
political death warrant.

Speaking of political demise, let's move on to 2012 Republican Presidential
Nominees. Sure, we're still in a recession. Sure, the President isn't the most
popular kid on the playground. But he sure looks good compared to some of the
goobers who are contemplating take-overs. Tea Party favorite and Favorite-SNL
topic, Sarah Palin, is well on her way to finally convincing a majority of Americans
that she isn't smart enough to be President. I think that people are seeing her for
what she is: someone who has gotten so use to fame and money that she could
really care less about learning enough about the issues to help people. It is being
suggested that U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) is the Tea Party's up-and-
coming frontrunner. This is truly frightening. Bachmann, who has been touring the
country, displaying her second grade comprehension of U.S. history, sounds much
more scary than she looks--which is saying a lot. Be warned. Lastly, we have the
likes of former U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Mars), whose personal credibility with
those supporting "Republican Values" resembles that of the other rumored potential-
candidate, Donald Trump. "Dear God, hear my prayer: If you really decide to end the
World on May 21st, please do the rest of us a favor...and take these people first.
Amen."

Departing is most likely bittersweet for one-time "inevitable nominee" and gutsy
U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who indicated that she would not
continue her service to the Obama Administration after next year's election. For me,
this news is both half-surprising and half-not. On one hand, I really thought that Sec.
Clinton would stay in for the full eight years, transitioning from one-time shrewd
politician to elder, competent statesman. But a leopard never changes his spots,
and although I like Hillary's politics, her hardcore ambition is her downfall. She said
that she didn't want to be president, either, but I can't help but think that she's up to
something. Rodham-Clinton has served her country well, but her only real chance at
the presidency was 2008 and she blew it with her cockiness. What now?

Lastly, my only wish for the upcoming Kentucky gubernatorial election is that just
one of the candidates wouldn't sound so 'backwoods'. I know that it's a really mean
thing to say, but I've been listening to speeches from Gov. Steve Beshear (D) and his
opponent, Sen. Pres. David Williams (R) and they both couldn't sound more 'gravelly'
if they'd drank three gallons of moonshine.

I'm just sayin'...

FYI for the LGBT, Part II--The World & You

Big ol' dilemma here: do I start with the worst countries/regions and make
you depressed right away, or do I make that my grand finale? Eh, I like
'happy endings', so let's end on a good note.

1) OUT of Africa...

To my LGBT sisters and brothers: you may want to go on a safari and you
may want to visit the Sphinx. While I advocate experience and traveling,
I suggest that you just watch a Nova re-run or read National Geographic to
get your fix while waiting for Africa to grasp the concept that humans have

rights. True--there are accepting cities and regions of every country. But there
are 53 recognized nations in Africa. 38 of them--over 70%--call homosexuality
illegal. The harshest penalties are death (Sudan, Mauritania and northern
Nigeria) and prison and/ or labor camp sentencing (Algeria, Libya, Morocco,
Tunisia, Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania,
Zambia, Botswana, Western Sahara and parts of Somaliland.) The
remaining countries have fines for being LGBT or do not enforce the law (is that
really suppose to make me feel better?) The safest country for LGBT citizens
and/or visitors is by far the country of South Africa, which allows same-sex
marriage and has broad legal protections for LGBT citizens. Again, just rent a
movie or something...

2) Asia: The Mixed Bag...

While Asia is indeed the second-most LGBT-discriminatory continent, many
of its countries (especially in East Asia) are experiencing progression in their
social beliefs, if only slightly. Although Transgendered discrimination is
widespread, some countries in South and East Asia protect gender change.
LGBT persons can be sentenced to death (Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Yemen, Iran), public whippings/flogging (Malaysia, Yemen) or
prison terms (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Gaza
territory, Qatar, Syria, Bhutan, Pakistan, Brunei, Burma and Singapore.)
Southeast Asia's most tolerant country is likely that of the Philippines, which
permits LGBT adoption and serving openly in the military and has cities with
anti-LGBT discrimination laws. I would consider the East Asian countries of

Taiwan and Japan to be the most progressive in that region. Taiwan has seen
a push in recent years for marriage Equality, while Japan has some anti-
discrimination legislation and allows openly Gay soldiers to serve in its military.
Somewhat-tolerant countries of South Asia include India and Nepal, which is
considering legalizing same-sex marriage. Between Central and Western Asia,
Israel is, without a doubt, the most progressive nation in terms of same-sex
Equality. Legal recognition is given to LGBT couples and Tel Aviv has long been
called the "Gay capital of the Middle East." No small feat, I'm sure.

3) "The Land Down Under"/Oceania...

New Zealand, Australia and its territories support their LGBT citizens and
visitors with a ban on all LGBT discrimination and legal recognition of same-sex
couples. Its ocean-dwelling neighbors are not as progressive. The area referred to
as Melanesia contains two countries where same-sex activity is illegal (Papua
New Guinea and the Solomon Islands). The island of Fiji has only recently
decriminalized being Gay. Many countries in Micronesia are territories of the
United States. Those countries fall under jurisdiction of U.S. laws pertaining to
LGBT rights (ex. Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.) Prison terms for being
LGBT exist in Kiribati and Palau. The area known as Polynesia includes one U.S.
territory, American Samoa. Being LGBT is not legal in other sovereign countries
such as Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. Probably the most accepting nation in that
area would be the Pitcairn Islands, a territory of the United Kingdom, which allows
civil unions, protections and LGBT adoption. (Side note: I knew nothing about the
Pitcairn Islands so I did some research. The Island and its whopping estimated 48
residents are mostly related. Does anyone else hear dueling banjos?)

4) The Americas: Who's Figured It Out, Who Fights It And Everyone Else...

Let's get this clear right off the bat. There are probably some cocky Americans
who would think that the U.S. is the safest place to be if you're LGBT. While the
United States govt. takes the cowardly way out by letting states ban protections
for LGBT citizens and allows states to approve/deny marriage Equality, Canada
looks down at our asses and laughs. Oh, Canada--you've been on our side for years,
federally protecting jobs, same-sex marriage, adoption and including hate speech as
discrimination against LGBT citizens. You rock, Maple Leaf. Mexico has anti-LGBT
discrimination legislation, but just like the U.S., laws and treatments vary. Central
America really isn't the friendliest place for Gays and Lesbians. The harshest country
here is Belize, which gives a ten-year prison term for same-sex activity. Other
Central American countries legalize being LGBT--but legalize little else. Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua have some LGBT discrimination
protections. South America is probably the most diverse region of the continent when
it comes to how it treats LGBT citizens/visitors. While Guyana hands out life
imprisonment sentences for being Gay, other countries such as Argentina, Brazil
and Uruguay have made enormous strides in recent years to give Equality to its
LGBT citizens. Some nations in South America are awaiting approvals of anti-
discrimination and marriage laws.

5) Caribbean Islands: You're Going WHERE for vacation!?...

Okay, so I know that the Carribean isn't a continent in itself, but I wanted to make
this one separate because I think that few people realize how "Dark Ages" these
nations are when it comes to LGBT Equality. Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados,
Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago hand out
prison terms for being Gay--some of them ten-year sentences, others life sentences.
Aruba will honor your marriage there as long as you were wed in the Netherlands but
offers little otherwise in regards to the safety of LGBT citizens/visitors. Really, the
countries with the most comprehensive LGBT laws are the U.S. territories of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands. Look: go on your cruise. Have a good time. Just be
aware, kids.

6) From Europe to LGBT Friends: We Love You. Most of us, anyway...

We'll get the less-pleasing content out of the way here: Eastern Europe tends to be
rather conservative. Although all fourteen nations in this region legalize same-sex
activity, six of those countries ban same-sex marriage. Fortunately, eight countries
have laws banning anti-gay discrimination. While protection laws exist, no Eastern
European nation really gets the green color from me. I guess it's good that they don't
get the red, either. Central Europe has made large strides in recent years pertaining
to LGBT Equality. Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary,
Slovenia and Switzerland all have detailed legislation in place. Western Europe
features the Netherlands, which is very supportive of LGBT Equality and is the first
country in the World to offer same-sex marriage. Other affirming nations include
Belgium, France, Jersey and Luxembourg. Northern Europe is incredibly
welcoming with the full marriage rights and protections of nations such as Denmark,
Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Other countries with less-but-better-than-most legal
Equality include Finland, Greenland, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Those
countries all have existing nationally-recognized civil unions, and some are proposing
same-sex marriage legislation. Only the Northern European nations of Latvia and
Lithuania and their bans on same-sex marriage make them appear reluctant to get
on board with the rest of the region.

While there is much do to globally in terms of achieving LGBT Equality, our vast
successes in recent years give us many reasons to feel proud. Godspeed.