Why Is It ...

… there are times when I want to take away my best friend’s pain and give it to someone we both hate

… that I sometimes think I’ll never retire and that I will work up until the day of my funeral and probably use a vacation day for it

… that when someone asks how I am, I fear that if I answer honestly I’ll be institutionalized

… that I’ve only just learned that shouting “Let’s get this trauma started” as I clock in is ‘concerning behavior.’

… that I’m not surprised that my life coach told me I didn’t make the team

… that when my boss complimented me and said he appreciated the sparkle in my eyes, I told them they were tears

… that most people don’t understand that tattoos exist because adulting is hard and we deserve stickers

… that when someone tells me I’m funny I tell them I would have been lobotomized in the 1940s

… that a friend told me hiking is a good way to meet people and on my first hike I met two paramedics, three nurses, a cardiologist and I almost met Jesus

… that my body now makes noises that sound very expensive

Why Is It ...

… that one of my greatest skills in working with clients is mastering The Fake Laugh™.

… that I cannot wait to retire so I can get up every day at 6AM and drive around really slowly to make everyone late for work. They say find a hobby and that’ll be mine.

… my morning coffee makes me feel like I have my shiz together; I don’t, but I feel like I do.

… that I really am a multipurpose friend because I’m down for brunch, a movie, aggravated assault, working out, whatever .,.. just let me know.

… that I like asking seven people for advice and then doing what I want anyway.

… that one of my toxic traits is finding out someone doesn’t like me and then trying to make it worse.

… that because I remember how we used to smack the top of the TV set to get a better picture, I have to fight the same urge to do that to people.

… that the first thing I notice when a person approaches me is their audacity.

… that I only drink water, coffee or alcohol? Who knows, but it explains why I am either hydrated, jittery or drunk.

… that I sometimes think sharks aren’t eating enough people.

The Funny Papers

Bill Day, David Horsey, Michael de Adder, John Deering, RJ Matson, Terry Mosher AKA Aislin, Darrin Bell, Drew Sheneman, Tom Stiglich, Nick Anderson, Gary Varvel, Mike Thompson, Jack Ohman, Clay Bennett, Adam Zyglis

Friendship Village Is Not Gay Friendly

Mary Walsh and Bev Nance have been together for 40 years, and had hoped to retire to Friendship Village, a senior living community in Sunset Hills, Missouri, but have been denied a place because they’re married; you know, two women, same sex, and all that.

Friendship Village? Perhaps they should rethink their name ... like, oh I dunno, howsabout Hateful Hacienda? Anti-Gay Acres?

Mary and Bev had visited Friendship Village in July 2016 and even put down a$2,000 deposit for a home there, but when the powers that be saw on their application that Mary and Bev are married to each other the application was rejected; they were told:

“Your request to share a single unit does not fall within the categories permitted by the long-standing policy of Friendship Village Sunset Hills.”

The owners cited its cohabitation policy, which only permits opposite-sex married couples under the belief that marriage is the “the union of one man and one woman, as marriage is understood in the Bible.”

Oh, folks, please reread your Bible and learn about it before opening your bigoted yaps. There have been all kinds of marriages permitted in the Bible. Does Friendship Village have a spot for a man with 30 wives? I mean, that’s in the Bible; wives as property? In there, too. Wives sold into marriage? Does Friendship Village have a spot for mail-order brides?

Walsh and Nance have been together since 1978 and tied the knot in Massachusetts in 2009, have lived in St. Louis for nearly 40 years and just wanted to grow old together.

Gosh, that sounds awful! Turn ‘em down! Damned lesbians!

Luckily, Mary ad Bev have filed a lawsuit against the senior community with the help of lawyers from the National Center for Lesbian Rights [NCLR]; their complaint alleges that Friendship Village violated the federal Fair Housing Act and Missouri Human Rights Act.

Now, Missouri state law does not explicitly cover anti-LGBT discrimination—because it’s Missouri—but their legal team are arguing that Walsh and Nance were discriminated against on the basis of sex:

“Mary and Bev were denied housing for one reason and one reason only—because they were married to each other rather than to men. This is exactly the type of sex discrimination the Fair Housing Act prohibits. Their story demonstrates the kind of exclusion and discrimination still facing same-sex couples of all ages.”

A spokesperson for the Friendship Village said:

“We have just been made aware of a lawsuit that we have not yet seen and have not had an opportunity to review. This matter will be discussed with legal counsel and [we] have no further comment at this time.”

Start commenting, because it looks like hate and if Mary and Bev win their lawsuit, and I hope they sue for monetary damages, I hope they make certain that Friendship Village lives up to its name.

Now, before anyone suggests I’m being a Pollyanna, and am not aware of who’s in the White House and which party controls Congress, and how right leaning the Supremes might become, I’d like to say that if you just look at fairness then there’s only one solution.

Unlike the Bible which offers all kinds of made up stories that so-called religious folks today don’t believe because they don’t fit their particular brand of hate.

Pink News

Reaction To Barney Frank's Retirement

President Barack Obama

"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him. For over 30 years, Barney has been a fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of families and businesses and helped make housing more affordable. He has stood up for the rights of LGBT Americans and fought to end discrimination against them. And it is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again. Barney's passion and his quick wit will be missed in the halls of Congress, and Michelle and I join the people of the Bay State in thanking him for his years of service."

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

“Barney Frank is one of kind. He has brought his own brand of brashness, boldness, unmatched wit, discipline and skill to Capitol Hill, at times ingratiating and infuriating friend and foe alike. We thank him for his years of service. As an openly gay member of Congress for nearly a quarter century, Barney Frank has made his mark on history. Yet his legacy is much more than that — for 30 years, he has dedicated himself to bettering the lives of the people he serves, and the country he serves. His voice — often loud and uncompromising — will be missed by many, including me.”

Human Rights Campaign

“Barney Frank has exemplified true leadership over his more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the first openly gay Member of Congress, Barney defied stereotypes and kicked doors open for LGBT Americans. Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act would never have happened without his leadership. But it goes beyond that. His service as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee during a time of great economic upheaval made a gay man one of the most powerful people in the country and he used that power for great good. America, Massachusetts and LGBT people are better off for Barney Frank’s service.”

Freedom To Marry

“As a public servant, Barney Frank has been an inspiration and a giant in an age where we've had few, and losing him as a leader in Congress and in public debate will be a painful blow for the country. Barney's excellence in shaping legislation and unparalleled voice in battling many of the wrong turns the country has taken have made extraordinary contributions to the history of our times. His singular and authentic personality has made politics look good at a time when so many events and electeds have made it look bad. I will miss his leadership, his brilliance, his liberal vision and values, and, of course, his corruscating wit. We need more Barney Franks in public life, not fewer, and fortunately we will always have his indelible example to work from."

via JMG