I made sure to watch this week’s episode of ‘Bones’ titled, “The Dentist in the Ditch,” because Cyd Zeigler from Outsports tipped off that the show was going to have a storyline about gay football players.  Now that you can watch the entire episode online, I wanted to pass the story along.

It takes a while to get to the storyline about gays in sports, and there are some sub-plot stories between the characters that you probably only care about if you follow the show week-to-week.  Overall, however, I’m pleased with the presentation and statement the episode made.

The female lead, played by Emily Deschanel, delivers several lines that seem unnatural in the script (or maybe just in the delivery).  Regardless, the lines carried with them a strong message challenging the stereotypes that gays in sports so frequently are faced with, and I am glad they were included.

It would not surprise me if Zeigler, who is friends with a consulting producer on the show, helped get some of these themes addressed by the episode.  Maybe as a gesture of thanks to Zeigler for the assist, several of the characters in the episode were named after people in his life (him, his partner, etc).

That is pretty cool, if you ask me, and having met Cyd recently, I have to say he deserves a nifty little tribute like this.  He’s been very supportive of what I am trying to do here and is always willing to offer advice.

Bones, Cyd Zeigler, Emily Deschanel, Fox, OutSports Hide

The score of the match, and even Wayne Rooney scoring his 100^th Premiere League goal, was not the story when Manchester United and Arsenal played each other today.  The two teams were competitors on the field but were united in a common goal as part of Nike’s “Lace Up, Save Lives” campaign to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The campaign as described by the Nike(RED) website: “Nike and (RED)™ are working together to leverage the power of sport to fight HIV/AIDS through a focus on two initiatives: education and medication. As a proud partner of (PRODUCT)RED™, NIKE will contribute 100% of its profits from the sales of (NIKE)RED Laces to the Global Fund (www.theglobalfund.org) and to support soccer-based programs to help fight AIDS in Africa.”

The game featured players wearing Nike(RED) shoe laces, red goal post netting, and each team wearing Nike(RED) jackets when being introduced prior to the game.  (Pictures at the end of this post.)

You can get your own pair of Nike(RED) laces for $4 here.

And if you need more incentive to do so, or are swayed easily by celebrity endorsements, here is a promotional video for the campaign featuring athletic superstars Kobe Bryant, Didier Drogba, Maria Sharapova, and more:

Red Net (and note the awareness promotions in each seat):

Fans spelling “Lace Up, Save Lives”:

Arsenal, Didier Drogba, Kobe Bryant, Lace Up Save Lives, Manchester United, Maria Sharapova, Nike, Nike(RED), Premiere League, Soccer, Wayne Rooney Hide

I do not have too much to say about President Obama’s State of the Union address from tonight, because, well, he did not have much to say about the fight for equal rights for the gay community either.  One little blip in a 70 minute speech is not the “fierce advocate” he promised to be for us.

He can go on, and on, and on about the 10% of people that are unemployed (and I in no way want to undervalue the importance of that issue with this comparison), but 10% of the country is also GLBT (give or take), and he essentially ignored us.

Now, while the State of the Union is full of pizzazz and media coverage, there was a far more important political development today that must not go unnoticed.  Today, Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2010, to the House of Representatives.

The bill, as described by the HRC news report, “prohibits discrimination against any public school student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

This legislation is immensely significant.  The bullying that GLBT youth face in schools leads to devastating results.  The suicides, murders, and beatings of countless youth last year and in recent memory must be protected against.

If you want to read more about studies that show how sexual identity affects depression, suicide rates, etc, there is an excellent article here.

I hope this legislation progression through its stages as a bill as swiftly and unopposed as possible.

bullying, HRC, Jared Polis, President Obama, State of the Union, Student Non-Discrimination Act Hide

As is often said with ironic news, you cannot make this stuff up.  The Wyoming School Board ruled to remove banners from two schools for a program that preaches against hate (in general terms against diverse groups), because, get this, one of the sponsors for the program is a gay group.

The banners are part of the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” campaign, a program in 25 Colorado and Wyoming schools.  ADL’s website describes the purpose of the campaign: “No Place for Hate® was developed to organize schools to work together and develop projects that enhance the appreciation of diversity and foster harmony amongst diverse groups. The campaign empowers schools to promote respect for individual and group differences while challenging prejudice and bigotry.”

The website continues: “We can choose to let anti-Semitism, racism, and other forms of bigotry go unchallenged.”

So let me ask you this rhetorical question: would the banners be taken down if it was a Jewish organization or any racially minority group as a sponsor?  Maybe it would be best for ADL to target the school board with the campaign rather than the students.

And the last little tidbit reported by the Wyoming Tribune that must be noted: District Superintendent Stuart Nelson says, “We’re still allowing the program to continue.”  Thankfully, ADL will not “allow the program if it’s not being honored and used in its fullest intent.”

The worst part from this entire story is thinking about the gay students that are within this district.  Any thought of being accepted by their community and by their peers is certainly derailed by these silly, irrational, deplorable decisions.

Anti-Defamation League, Homophobia, No Place for Hate, Wyoming Tribune Hide

I woke up this morning, and while I stayed in bed for a few minutes, I thought about the hypocrisy of so many Christians.  Quite a random topic to wake up to, I realize.  I merely was reflecting on something my ex used to tell me: the ultimate intention of any Christian should be to bring people to Christ.  Above all else, it is the most important.  Cite all the Bible verses you want and promote whatever government legislation you want, because in the end (assuming, for a moment, that we’re in the Christian “end”), you are damning yourself.

After that thought, I went to my computer and began to read some of the many articles, news stories, and Tweets I saved previously to read later.  Now is later, and I did not make it passed the very first link before having to make this post.

This letter was written by a mother in 2000 to her community, especially directed at the Christians.  It is eloquent and profound, and ten years later, its words still ring true.  I encourage you to read it in its entirety, but I will excerpt my favorite parts here:

• “Many letters have been sent to the Valley News concerning the homosexual menace in Vermont. I am the mother of a gay son and I’ve taken enough from you good people.”
• “I’m tired of your foolish rhetoric about the “homosexual agenda” and your allegations that accepting homosexuality is the same thing as advocating sex with children. You are cruel and ignorant. You have been robbing me of the joys of motherhood ever since my children were tiny.”
• “You have the audacity to talk about protecting families and children from the homosexual menace, while you yourselves tear apart families and drive children to despair. I don’t know why my son is gay, but I do know that God didn’t put him, and millions like him, on this Earth to give you someone to abuse. God gave you brains so that you could think, and it’s about time you started doing that.”
• “You use religion to abdicate your responsibility to be thinking human beings. There are vast numbers of religious people who find your attitudes repugnant. God is not for the privileged majority, and God knows my son has committed no sin.”

When I first saw this Jesus NOH8 photo by Adam Bouska, I initially felt that it was slightly sacrilegious.  But then I thought: Jesus WOULD be a part of the NOH8 campaign, because Jesus does not hate.  Yet you, the Christians supposedly following him, do.

Adam Bouska, Christianity, NOH8 Hide