What is in Kelvin's Head?

International Day Against Homophobia

17/05/2014

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia.

I’m not going to say much about it except to point towards a youtube video – one of the most articulate speeches of recent years about the topic.

It is an unlikely person speaking in an unlikely location – a drag queen called Panti Bliss speaking at the end of of a production in the Abbey Theatre in Ireland.

Lots of people will have seen it. If you haven’t, take a look.

The next time you hear a straight church leader speaking about how it is not actually homophobic to take actions which work to the detriment of gay and lesbian people remember this speech. And ask who is best placed to decide what is homophobic and what isn’t.

8 responses to “Guides and God”

Tim

19/06/2013

I like the change from `country’ to `community’ most of all.

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PamB

19/06/2013

I still remember my Brownie and Guide promises, but think that the Chorister’s prayer takes a lot of beating.
Bless O Lord us thy servants who minister in thy temple. Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives, through etc, etc.
Don’t know why this isn’t an essential part of the Voice for life scheme, same as the Brownie/guide equivalents are to their development process.

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Rosemary Hannah

19/06/2013

The only one of the above I could take (Pam’s chorister’s apart) without serious finger-crossing is the Rainbow pledge. I MIGHT want to serve my community, but it would usually be by challenging it, and that is, based on childhood experiences and why I never got to play Mary in the nativity play (despite being in every other way well qualified) that is NOT what people want from children, generally. Or adults, by and large.

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Robin

19/06/2013

> To be true to myself and develop my beliefs,

This is meaningless. Beliefs, in themselves, are neither good nor bad. Nor are all beliefs equally valid or moral – people can have horrible beliefs.

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Rosemary Hannah

19/06/2013

Indeed Robin -and similarly, on occasion setting about me with a mace would have been being true to myself, and not a good thing to do, but THINKING about what one believes, and being kind and helpful … yes, let’s stick with the Rainbows.

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Robin

19/06/2013

Agreed. I like the Rainbow pledge.

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Rosemary Hannah

19/06/2013

Yup – promise less, deliver more. Way to go.

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Erp

20/06/2013

Don’t forget these also go with the Brownie and Guide Laws (the Rainbows don’t have a separate law)

Brownie law
* A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day.

Guide law
A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.
A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.
A Guide faces challenges and learns from her experiences.
A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.
A Guide is polite and considerate.
A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.

What I like is the organization consulted with the Guides and even the Brownies when considering changes to the promises and not just those over 18.

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