"We Need To Change The Message"

Back in college, a dear friend of mine attempted to kill himself because he was gay. Fortunately he didn't succeed, but the incident made me realize there was something very very wrong with the world when a kind and loving person chooses to end his life rather than live in it, and I've felt strongly about GLBT rights ever since.

Today, I'm blessed with a diverse, multicultural group of friends of different sexual orientations. One of them completed her sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) a few years ago while another is currently waiting for hers, and since we live in a town that is broad-minded when it comes to sexual orientation and/or identity, they have received overwhelming kindness and support.

Tragically, young Lawrence King's death reminds us that this still isn't the case for everyone.

A heavy cloud of hate has loomed over this country for the last seven years. Open hostility is shamelessly expressed and encouraged -- not just against gays but anyone perceived to be undesirable, including undocumented aliens, Muslims and the homeless poor -- without regard for its potentially fatal consequences. This has to stop.

Hate is vicious, repulsive and obscene. Hate kills, erodes our nation's psyche and destroys our very humanity. We should never, ever, tolerate it.

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