Come Together Right Now

I was just part of my union's (CSEA) Political Action Committee (PAC) and the GLBT Committee come together to work side by side, to educate members of CSEA on the GLBT's they may work with, live with and/or just educate people in general. On the PAC side we are going to move fast and forward on getting equal rights for all U.S. Citizens, not just GLBT's, but also women, minorities, disabled, and anyone who is held back, BY THE SO CALLED LAWS that are supposed to help them, but have done little to nothing in this area. For one example, in the stimulus package, couples get $1000 just because, they need the break, OOPS, not all couples, just STR8 married couples, not even those gay legally married in the few states that have it. Thanks Barrack. The more things change the more they stay the same. But wait, we are going to change it for them and us, we certainly can't count on the Washington Group of .............

Here I am again

So I had this great idea of blogging from Lima Peru, and all over the world, well there is something to say for Wireless and Laptops and Wi-Fi, etc..... Every time I had something brilliant to write about, NO CONNECTION, well ok maybe it was not brilliant, but it was my voice, I couldn't connect.So folks, please help me to keep my voice going. I want to think I have something to say, something deep or funny, or just a bit of FYI stuff. I am getting very involved with my GLBT Union Committees. I am joining the NYV Pride Agenda, and the Pride at Work Organization, there thing is "PAW" maybe that is why I am really joining, isn't that about the cutest thing, a little PAW, but we have a big roar, and we are not fighting for Equal Rights, we are going to get Equal Rights, I may be shy, and quiet, but get me riled and I'll join anything and everything.
I want to get married, and unlike so many, I found the right person, we are already together, but OOPS, my Govt. says I can't, I may ruin the blessed institution of Marriage. Oh well, the str8's haven't exactly set the best example, could we do worse? I by no way mean all heterosexual people, I just mean those Holy Roller Christians who know best, like Rush the druggie, Ted the I just can't stay away from the boys and so many others. But that is for another time or writing.

Writing from another America

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !! I hope you all have a happy and healthy new year, may all your dreams come true, well alright, may a few dreams come true, OK how about ONE dream or small wish come true. I am going to South America and I am taking my Laptop, I do not know how to use a Laptop, but I will try. Now my good friend HellsKitch won't be nearby to talk me down and show me how to do this. He was such a huge part of me finding Niall's Voice. Forever in his debt. Once it got going, it hasn't been quiet too often. That is good. So I travel a lot and so many times I want to share what I am going through, like when Rafael has this NYC born and bred boy from the Bronx, who didn't climb a hill growing up, let alone a mountain, he has me trying to walk up or down mountains, actually I climb much up better than I walk down, but I walk, slide, sit, do what it takes to get back to land, I just keep looking down and think it is either go slow and careful, or just DROP to the bottom. How come I don't ever know these things in advance, or do I ignore the signs and the airline tickets. To be honest, meeting Rafael has been the best adventure of my life. When I met him I thought, oh let me, the world traveler, I had only been to Ireland, well I will take him to Ireland, we went, got on a tour bus in Dublin and were off, now let me say off the bus is not what we did, I pointed out to him all the must sees, BUT stayed on the bus, we went to Trinity College, and I told him "inside there is a Book of Kells, very famous something or other, but we'll look some other time. I did stop to take pictures of the Molly Malone Bronze statue, and sang to him as well." I thought, look at me, I am showing him the world. When my cousin Marybeth and Mike came with us the next year(s) she showed him all the things, she made us GET OFF THE BUS. See, little did I know that Rafael was already a world traveler, who spoke about 5 languages, moved to countries for periods of time. Yet he just amused me and let me think I was just about as cool as could be. P.S. Molly Malone was the only thing I really allowed us to get off the bus for. We passed the Goalmahne Jail (spelling ?) , I did point it out, not off the bus, the Wicklow Mountains, stay on the bus please, then we stopped at the place where they certified you an alcoholic, figured I got off there, plus the driver made us. Then we went too the Cliffs of Moher, where the sites were beautiful, there is no fence on the Cliffs, but I showed Rafael a short cut, well I started slowly, then I was running, for those who know me, I am not a runner, but I was running/sliding right towards the edge of the Cliffs, I turned around and saw Rafael, my new partner and 2 older Irish-Americans staring at me, they thought for sure I was going off the Cliffs, for sure, perhaps I would. All Niall was concerned about was, "when I am flying through the air, to my certain death, thousands of feet into the Atlantic, would I look stupid?" God forbid, I wanted to at least fall graciously, with dignity. Well as you all know I did not fall off the Cliffs of Moher, but Rafael barely lets me get close to the curb of NYC sidewalks. Then he forgets for a week or two and gets me climbing a mountain, or fishing for pirhana in the Amazon Rain Forest, walking in mud, where my footing is non-existent and laughable, and I finally inquire, when is it going to stop raining, why do they give us rain coats every day, OH the RAIN FOREST, hehehehe. See when you put your voice on this little thing called the internet, and you share your voice and writings, you need to be prepared to share it all. See vacations are great, Niall is not too often graceful, but I am grateful, hopefully most of the time. Well I hope to write from Peru, now if you don't hear from me, pray for me. I need it. I just want to share because some people think my travels are so sophisticated, for those who know me, they are fun, exciting, great, leisurely, wild, educational, but Niall from Tolentine, Fordham Road in the Bronx, NEVER sophisticated. Life is good and I am going to write about it.

Talk Me Down

Pres-elect Obama, so is everyone in your future Administration either Anti-Gay & Gay marriage, or spineless to not say anything, or so insensitive to a group of Americans that worked so hard to get him elected, or just plain evil. They (you) took all our dollars and votes, so now to the underside of the bus we go, you don't need us for 4 years. WRONG !! As Bill Clinton learned we can change things and make your administration useless. Melissa Ethridge reminded Hillary how her husband and administration broke our hearts, he sold us out, DOMA, and that night she still said NO GAY MARRIAGE, as you did, see we get that politcal jobs matter more than our civil rights, but we are kind and forgiving, maybe to a fault, we thought maybe this time it would be different. The old saying "Fool us once shame on you, fool us twice shame on us." That will not happen again. It is insulting that you, Obama invited this anti gay, anti women's rights, anti Muslim, someone who believes only Christians like himself get to heaven to your inauguration, let alone be such an integral part. At least your Pastor Wright for 20 years said some true things, as ignorant as most were, and insensitive to say the least, but now I think I see him under the bus with us. I think loyalty is not your strong suit. I can not sleep because I am so enraged that we bought this B.S. once again, that the whole bunch of you politicians sold to us. At one of the last press conferences, when you took questions, what a coincidence no one brought this issue up, can you say George Bush as far as controlling questions? Then you snidely said your mind is made up, George Bush again, "I know you are just being inclusive". Where are all the "Hopefully soon to be Confirmed future secretaries of blah, blah blah," (Clinton, Richardson, even your opponents who don't have the reward jobs yet, the one's to be appointed to the new transparent Administration? We know who they are, but why hasn't one of them had an opinion on this publically, all of a sudden they have nothing to say, oh right, they want that job, and since they couldn't get the votes they needed, they need the political welfare handout. So when I thought for a short time that Change we can believe in was happening soon; unless a true Christmas Miracle Happens (I know that may not be politically correct) , I guess I was wrong. No Virginia, maybe there is no Santa . When Harvey Milk went against the gay political establishment 30 years ago, they said you have to work with those on the inside, he left them, he said this was a movement, not a political event. Thank You Harvey Milk, a great New Yorker by the way. I am always open to being proven wrong and/or naive, and I actually pray this to happen, I pray to God, as a Gay Christian, by the way Rick Warren you would not let be a member of your Church, I pray Obama, you will wake up, or slip on the Black Ice as I did today and get sense knocked into you. I was actually so upset with this and not paying attention to where I was walking, that I slipped and bruised ribs on black ice. Now I can't sleep, because of the pain and to think it was caused because I was upset by YOU Barry Obama, I trusted you and felt betrayed. Remember we can get you voted out as quick as we put you in, think Ford, Carter, Dinkins in NYC, many more. This was not your brightest moment. Was Hillary right, did all you have was one good speech as a record? Hillary how come you are not the least bit offended? Warren thinks you should have no choice to choose, and stem cells nah, oh well, just another difference. See I didn't want to go there so fast. But President Elect Obama you have offended me personally, I am thinking of having a few good friends over to watch the inaugaration, they love Gays, but they are sort of "KKK mentality when it comes to color", you know what I mean right, and they are my friends, as Warren is yours, you just don't agree on all things, I argued vehemently on your behalf, they just didn't want to vote for you because you were black, I tried to say only half, but they saw Black, and a Muslim (not even true) , like Warren thinks we are gays, who need to mature out of gayness, and we are like Pedophile's and Incest offenders. If I have my friends over I will just be following your example, is that how I do it? We can agree to disagree, you said we need to do that. Oh wait I have integrity President Elect Obama, I would never do that to you, you being (Bi-Racial) or to an African-American in general. See I raise the bar higher than you. Again I pray to be wrong here, I am sure about one thing I know in Politics, I do not know a lot, as a Chair of a Political Action Committee, I know what is right is not what is always done, and nothing is as it seems to be, there is the game, then the game behind the close doors, I thought your doors may be glass, transparent, I guess not. Please prove me wrong. I pray for that. But I will be more active now than ever, and if nothing else, I thank you for that. I had to thank Sarah Palin for getting me riled and motivated, and active, so maybe you and her have a lot in common. Can you see Canada from where you live? Now as my good friend Rachel Maddow says, Talk me Down !!

Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Kennedy? Not so sure yet. She wants to be a United States Senator.Not to be outdone by the other Dem dynasty, Caroline Kennedy managed to seem a believable choice for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. "I come at this as a mother, as a lawyer, as an author as an education advocate and from a family that really has spent generations in public service," she said. Rehearsed? Seemed so. She said no one could afford to sit out this time in history, and that she would "love to take the skills and the relationships I have to Washington."What are those skills? Not sure. The Daily Beast has a good list of other under-qualified yet successful Senators. They are Bill Bradley (basketball), Ted Kennedy (bootlegger money), James Buckley (trust funder), Bill Frist (doctor), Orrin Hatch (white-shingle lawyer), John Edwards (trial lawyer), Herb Kohl (sports franchise dude), Jon Corzine (Goldman Sachs), Robert Bennett (religion), and Hillary Clinton (first lady).

Join Me and "U.S."

Equal Rights.........I am so afraid that with the terrible economic situation we are facing, more people will become so single issue focused that they will say what I have already heard, "Gay issues and marriage equality is not a priority right now, we have to focus on the economy!" When a person's basic civil rights are being denied, the fight can never be put off. It is true that we face a major crisis economically, that many people have already lost their jobs with more to come. That peoples' lives are being affected in horrible ways, we must support them in any way we can. I am in no way saying ignore their troubles, not brought on by them by the way. Some people think they don't have much to offer or share, any way we or anything we can do for those who are suffering must be done. The gift of love, prayer, sharing and caring is the greatest gift God has given us, and it is time for us to share them all with those in need. I am not saying or implying to ignore those in need, because you see, many of us are those very people who have lost jobs, careers, homes. We are one. So it is not two different groups of people, what affects one should affect all Americans. We can do more than one thing at a time though. Americans have become a society of multi-taskers, many times we are not giving any one thing our full attention, or we give it the minimum attention that is needed. We say proudly that we can do so many things at once. Well since we often boast about being able to do so many things at once, how about we add one more thing; something so simple as writing a post card or calling your local politician, or U.S. Senator, and yes even President-elect Barrack Obama and tell him that we expect him to keep his promise and actively fight to give GLBT's Equal Rights, on ALL levels. He made a point in September to not join McCain and suspend his campaign (a stunt by McCain's campaign that didn't work) and run to Washington DC. He said a President or leader can do more than one thing at a time, and when something was on the table that he needed to be there for he would go, and he did. I think this showed that he had the judgment once again to prioritize and be kept aware of what was going on. He continued doing one task, while keeping an eye on what was happening in DC. He went when it was time. We all know that one man does not run a country, it is a TEAM and an administration, one that WE hire. Well let's make sure that while knowing and understanding that the President-elect has many things to do to start our new beginning, he also has to keep his eye on all the issues and in his sights.
The Civil Rights movement, and the many battles that were won as a result from those fights is one reason that this country was able to come so far as to elect Barrack Obama. Many Americans and people worldwide are showing pride and joy for a job well done; hope reborn, not because of one man, but because one nation, one people, Americans, got it right, that right being putting our past behind us and voting for a man that would not even be able to vote not too long ago, let alone be the President. Many people I know that voted for John McCain appreciated the history that was being made, and felt pride in America. Let's not forget that and continue the fight for Civil Rights, our civil rights, GLBT's. Let's not have the powerful, greedy, and morally bankrupt "CEO's and Institutions" that have put us in this situation in the first place also be the reason that Neil & Rafael do not receive the equal rights that many of their family and friends have, that one word, marriage. You see, nothing would please many Americans (can you say Christian Right Conservatives) more than to have everyone focused on this one issue, while in doing so, have the fight for equal rights for all Americans put on the back burner. I will not be placed on anyones' back burner or a downgraded to a second priority. I am making an impact and I hope some of you will pass this on and join me...
This small piece below is from the website of Join The Impact.com site.
......................WHAT IS THE JOIN THE IMPACT? election night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens.

This is not a one time, four-state issue. It's an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard!

Election night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens. This is not a one time, four-state issue. It's an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard!

Not Accepting the Unacceptable

Marriage is a Civil Union

I love this whole topic. It really has me sparked/motivated, it is better than what poor old Sarah Palin did for my blog, they are selling her down the river, I never saw so many people defend her this weekend. Oh the world of politics.

This was a Conference, dealing with all issues, given by the Women's Committee. It was handled in a great way.

At this conference I spent time with a woman from NYS PRIDE Agenda, and tried every way I could to see why not just equal rights, with different words, civil union vs marriage, wasn't OK. I was talking to the wrong one, she sat me down with facts, and said remember separate but equal, that was thrown out by the Supreme Court, it had to be equal is equal not separate, or called different things. As far as what people are used to or what comes to mind when the word marriage comes to be spoken is so relevant because it is the people that need to change, not the term. When people thought of black people, they thought "N" word..., slaves, less than, property, not until 1964 was that legally supposed to be changed (the equal rights part), although it is still not accepted all over. etc... Women, they were thought less than, they were by law subservient, owned by the man (husband) at one time property, etc.... So what people think, and their comfort zone regarding terminology is their problem. This woman has me more into this cause, with research about it first, more now than ever. Everything I threw at her she had the answer, she said when people say lifestyle, she reminds them, I did not choose this, it is my orientation, when she talks about her wife, she said at first people looked at her weird, then the second time, they are so-so, then the 3rd time they get used to it. Meanwhile I was even thrown by the term, and she noticed that, but I remembered that a few friends I have, heterosexuals, actually ask how my husband, Rafael is, all the time again, I am the one who is uncomfortable with the term, my homophobia, not theirs. When I mentioned abortion, as is brought to my attention regarding laws when we discuss this issue, and about the church, and how it somehow is all the same, don't even go there because that is a choice, whether you agree or disagree, it is a choice made by a woman, and/or a man, or both, or whoever, but it is a choice. Sexual Orientation is not a choice.

When I told her about my blog, writings, etc....... I told her that I mentioned the "ignorants", regarding some people, I said it was ME who was most ignorant in some areas, ignorant for me to expect people to buy into something I can not even sell to myself. So I want that to come across. Ignorant is not a bad or insulting word, but it does get people's attention, because they feel insulted, I know I did. Arrogant and ignorant are so often put together.

We also discussed the riots/marches depends who you talk to, and how they look at it, the protests happening in California, she said they will get probably get worse, I asked why, since this Proposition or one similar was passed before, she said because they, the religious conservatives, and in fact our government, have actually taken rights away from people this time, where before Gays were fighting for a right, now we, me, Rafael, my friends, all lost rights, as they did in 4 states this election year. Marriage is a civil term, no matter how you look at it, and to settle for less is unacceptable. Let's call all marriages Civil Unions, and then if the heterosexual couples want to go to a church and get married, feel free to go and get blessed by the so called "Godly". If it is going to be civil unions, let all couples have civil unions, that is what married people have now anyway, so let's call it what it is. Friends I have stay legally married only because of the marriage laws and their benefits, because they are still married, one "partner" still gets family plan health insurance, dental, Social Security, etc... why should they have certain rights because they are married, when 2 people in a loving same sex relationship can't have these rights at all, even when they love each other and are together. They can legally still do their taxes together, but me and Rafael can't. If I die, he gets to pay the taxes on his windfall (ha ha), my death, my friends get half of spouse's estate without tax penalties, because they are married, living in different places, being in different relationships, but yes married by law. Lord I can go on and on. I was really not caring about the word part, call it what you will but give me equal rights was all I said, I no longer feel like that, I was taught once again, how ignorant I was on the subject. So unless and until the Federal Govt. gets the law changed to make it right, it won't be right. The idea that a bunch of people in California, one of the most liberal of all states, can get this hate bill, anti human rights bill passed, and at the same time take rights away from people now, scares me, I knew the country was turning backwards in this area, but this is the proof. You know what I think I should do, move, to Ireland, that is what I say whenever frustrated or angry with our Govt. !!!!!!! But like Michael Moore said "The worse thing you can do is leave the country and not fight for your rights, I hate that sheesh. I may have to move to San Fran to join the fight, put flowers in my hair, oh right I have no rights and no hair, can't win today, but NOOOOO, my union wants me to get on the front lines in NYS and make a difference, I want to also. They also pointed out, and this was funny, that a NYS Govt. Report and some newspapers, felt the need to Headline, in these "Financial Times, Gay Rights will not be on the top of the priority list". Maybe they felt the need to headline only the Gay story, someone said, because the uproar that the layoffs and closings that are to come will go unnoticed. So use us now as a distraction, I was speechless.

One action being taken is calling all committed couples "Civil Partners", gay or straight, even those presently called married. Let's see how "they" feel when we say we don't consider your civil loving partnership anything more than that. They aren't used to it, oh well. So I will ask people how is your partner. I was told gay marriage is new and different, so why can't we just accept that and call it something other than marriage, to make "them" happy, Gay people in love is not new and different, it is just love. Marriage is not owned by the Church, if it were why would one need a license from the Govt. in order to get married by the Church. So let's call marriage something different. I am not compromising, and people comparing it to the abortion issue, is actually insulting, that my relationship with a GREAT man, be partnered or compared to abortion in legal issues. When and if the closed minded get used to my calling them Partners, God knows a lot are not civil, but ok Civil Partners, maybe they will see how it feels, and if they get comfortable "Hurray", and if not, oh well get a life, and get used to it. I can't wait to start asking people at work tomorrow how their partner is, I am going to have to work that into the conversation, and then pretend I even care.

It is so funny, I was with Rafael all weekend at the conference, it was great, but we are so different. I get riled with these issues. He just wants peace, I want justice, where is Al Sharpton when you need him? My cousin and I were saying how many people call Rafael my "friend", lots of times not even a name, or when we are sent an invitation or Christmas card it is not Mr & Mr, or Mr Neil & Rafael K. or Rafael & Neil V., it is Neil K & Rafael V, it doesn't get any more simple than that, SEPARATE, we can't even get an address in the post office saying we are a couple in a committed relationship, living together, owning property. In S.T., where we reside Rafael is only an occupant, if we were married he could be put on lease, but he can not be put on lease, he is just an occupant. My poor friend, I mean partner, I mean Occupant, Rafael. As you see I can go on and on. What is Next I will tell you, in a future blog........?????????????????