Comments on GLBT|ATL Blog: Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference

After going to the rally at the Eagle and hearing ...

2009-09-24T13:50:35.865-04:00

After going to the rally at the Eagle and hearing the stories of what happened. Seeing the fear and pain in the eyes of those who shared what happened, and the fear and anger in the eyes of those who listened made me see how important it is that we as a community must be sure the right message is delievered regardless of who presents it. We must never lower ourselves to a level equal to those who would take the dream but stand strong and show the dream is alive. I appeal to everyone for the protection of gay rights in Atlanta, in Georgia, in the United States and across this World. I do not speak for myself; and I don't speak for the people I love; and I don't speak on behalf of all gay men and women. I speak on behalf of humanity as a whole, because we forget that our very fate is intertwined. When one person is not free, then all people are bound. And when the gay community triumphs, then our triumph too, shall be everyone's triumph.

A very famous man, from right here in Atlanta once said “I Have a Dream” Well, I also have my own dreams. I dream the pursuit of life of happiness and companionship with a person I love, and who loves me, freely without fear. I dream that someday that the words I share will allow one more person to hold their head up and be proud, I dream that maybe one day we will all want to make a difference and make this life just a little easier for just one other person. If we each tried to make just ones person’s life better by our actions, imagine the power that would have.

My real dream is that you will all join me in the cause to uphold not only gay rights but all rights. But if that is too much to ask of you, just now then I would appeal for tolerance and patience. But most of all, I dream, that someday this conversation about fear and hate will no longer be necessary.

Thanks Mat, and I'll end commentary with that....

2009-09-23T18:44:08.381-04:00

Thanks Mat, and I'll end commentary with that.

I will stand by my people. i will fight beside an...

2009-09-23T18:40:32.909-04:00

I will stand by my people. i will fight beside anyone that is willing to fight toward the cause, not against our allies.

I will fight to your left and to her right if i can, but i will not chose sides within my own community.

We are united by our goal. I am a gay man that wants american civil rights. As long as you stand for the same thing, I am beside you with open arms and I will do anything i can to protect my community, that includes you and Todd.

Actually, Mat, you provided an excellent chance to...

2009-09-23T18:05:07.936-04:00

Actually, Mat, you provided an excellent chance to exit smiling.

I'm going to get back to sourcing out whatever help I can to help those attacked. You can work with me, in conjunction, independently, or however you choose, but do what's right by the men who were terrorized.

Commentary is now over and closed. TA!

Mat, This isn't making much sense. How can we...

2009-09-23T18:01:54.657-04:00

Mat,

This isn't making much sense. How can we do ANYTHING when we're being threatened with lawsuits by people who have no legal ground to stand on?

Shall I just walk away from the blog posts and let people whinge about being ignored?

We most certainly ARE NOT playing the victim card. Our goal is to get this CRAP out of the way (much like the raw sewage spilling from our city) and move on to helping those who truly were victims.

If we stand too proudly against these slings and arrows, we are accused of seeking the spotlight. If we simply try to move on, we're threatened with baseless lawsuits.

We're willing to reach out to you and anyone else willing to help the men who were attacked. Will you sit at the table?

If you are so concerned with the 70 men that were ...

2009-09-23T17:55:00.177-04:00

If you are so concerned with the 70 men that were accosted, then at least make them your focus. You are actually focused on the "straight girl".

Our cause is more important than your own personal feelings. It's about fighting for equality. It's about standing together.

You don't have to endorse Laura, but damn it, don't try and pull a veil over what we, the LGBTQ Community, are fighting for.

If you want the attention, then I suggest you get on the ball and catch up with Laura. At this point, she is making a much bigger impact with our cause than you are.

You and Todd are losing the support of our community by playing the victim card.

Editorial content is covered by fair use. Besides ...

2009-09-23T17:50:42.945-04:00

Editorial content is covered by fair use. Besides that, the original flyer is using a copyright-protected image (the cartoon) itself in a manner that has questionable fair-use rationale of its own.

"juvenille", misspelled, indeed.

You first, babe. I know my Fair Use Law. Again... ...

2009-09-23T17:44:12.429-04:00

You first, babe. I know my Fair Use Law. Again... I urge you and all of your Law School buddies to bring it. Otherwise, work toward helping the 70 men at the Eagle who were brutalized.

Adam, Thank for you for citing-Title 17 which enc...

2009-09-23T17:30:17.819-04:00

Adam,

Thank for you for citing-Title 17 which encompasses all of the copyright laws, please go and read the court cases which defines what "newsworthy" means and understand the exclusionary elements of copyright exclusivity before making such juvenille comments.

We are trying to get the focus back on the 70 men ...

2009-09-23T17:17:13.765-04:00

We are trying to get the focus back on the 70 men who were abused.

As for that heinous piece of propaganda, its political/hateful nature makes it "newsworthy" and that means if falls under Title 17 U.S.C.

So if people want to keep threatening about lawsuits, someone please step up. We're ready, and any judge would laugh you all out of the court room. Please find an attorney who is that dim witted, and let's do this.

Adam and Todd, So it appears that you guys do not...

2009-09-23T17:10:55.534-04:00

Adam and Todd,

So it appears that you guys do not have a problem with the Eagle raid nor the inequalities with the gay community, but rather with an individual named Laura. Remember we are all fighting for the same cause, in the end, who cares about who gets the attention or if the person is gay, straight, black, white, etc. Imagine if only cancer patients were allowed to fight for a cure for cancer.

Take your personal differences off-line and fight for what this web-site and organization is about...equality.

As a side note, any person that creates a work of art, such as the banner above is the copyright owner. I hope you have obtained a license or permission from the copyright owner to use or display such work of art--otherwise you can be sued for copyright infringement under criminal and civil actions.

Skyler, I'm not afraid to post anything. I ju...

2009-09-23T15:34:09.617-04:00

Skyler,

I'm not afraid to post anything. I just refuse to deal with half a dozen posts (posts we rejected when they were anonymous) in a matter of minutes. Seek help, please.

Are you afraid to post what I said?? Let the truth...

2009-09-23T15:28:54.076-04:00

Are you afraid to post what I said?? Let the truth be out, don't hide or modify it, have the balls to put it up.

and I'm "young" only in number, sweetie. I am almost 23 years old.

By the by... young Skyler has sent in six comments...

2009-09-23T14:49:41.651-04:00

By the by... young Skyler has sent in six comments in a matter of minutes. I encourage him to contact ME privately, or do something to get his mind off of this contentious issue.

Mat, Without regret, question, or pause, I will s...

2009-09-23T14:43:02.185-04:00

Mat,

Without regret, question, or pause, I will stand up and say NO! to that word being used in such a heinous way.

Once I saw that poster, I moved quickly away from this mess. As the "art guy", I will NEVER be associated with the superficial use of that word.

I am disgusted by the disrespectful and venomous use of that word as some vain attempt to gather support.

Please ask Judy Shepard about its use some time.

I just want to address the recent "Civil War&...

2009-09-23T14:30:26.820-04:00

I just want to address the recent "Civil War" that is taking place in the latest, in decades worth of Civil RIGHTS battles fought not only by us, the LGBTQ Community, but by every single culture on this planet. When will it occur to you that it takes UNITY to win a battle? It takes all of us to share one SINGLE goal.

We fight for EQUALITY. We stand up for our LOVE and the "right" to express it just like everyone else. I think it is counter-productive to our cause to fight against the ones who are fighting for us. Sure, one may have offended another with their tactic, but it was merely that, a tactic designed to get a rise.

I'm gay, I have my own sad story to go along with it, but I hold myself together with the knowledge that I am alive today. I love who I am and I thank my past for getting me here.

To assume that someone "does not understand the deep hatred (the word faggot) conveys firsthand" is asinine at best. Everyone has their "relative" slur, but they are just words. Words as weapons receive their power from the person that they are used against. The best way to stop people from using a weapon is to take the power away from it. I am free of that emotional battle because I took the power away from the weapon.

We have to stick together. We have to be one. We have to keep the ones who are brave enough to fight beside us close. We have to win. Above all, we have to stay focused on changing THE necessary minds in our favor. If the ones who need convincing see our internal struggle, they will not take us seriously.

I have been observing lately and I am saddened by what I see. If we have the same goal, we are not enemies.

Mathew Lovell
mathew.lovell@gmail.com

Skyler, my father is a retired State Attorney, and...

2009-09-23T14:02:13.251-04:00

Skyler, my father is a retired State Attorney, and I'm pretty sure he can handle any legal complaints. Actually, he's waiting for them. Good luck with law school. There are a few Constitutional amendments and MANY cases for you to learn and grow from.

The spotlight? I have always been the one to shy away from public speaking.

I am focused on bringing MY community together, but I will not associate with anyone who thinks THAT WORD is an acceptable way to bring people together.

There have been a LOT of cowardly anonymous mail, ...

2009-09-23T13:56:10.904-04:00

There have been a LOT of cowardly anonymous mail, but I will happily address real communication from people who aren't hiding behind anonymity.

I'm in law school, and have a few lawyer frien...

2009-09-23T13:30:29.928-04:00

I'm in law school, and have a few lawyer friends, so if I were you I'd stop these harassing, sitting in your basement in your pajamas, attacks on a lifelong ally of the GLBT community.

It shouldn't be about speaking at a rally, it should be about going to a rally for the purpose, not the spotlight.

The spotlight isn't such a fun place to be, as I'm sure you're finding out.

I'm just politely asking you to stop with your attacks, and focus on bringing our community together.