In the article published in the London Evening Standard, Jonathan Steer was removed from his position as picture editor because he was harassing a man listed only as “Andrew.” The two men had one dinner together in 2008 in which Steer paid for everything. After their date, Steer seemed to think that there was more to the relationship because he began to constantly text, e-mail, and call Andrew about their “sexual chemistry” at all hours of the day and night. Steer even went so far as to call Andrew’s parents. Steer also hinted to co-workers at the BBC that something had happened between him and “Andrew” on the night that they went to dinner. The BBC fired Steer for harassment. Shortly after being fired, he filed a claim against them for unfair dismissal and lost. It has now come to light that Steer suffers from bi-polar disorder. Based on the fact that Steer has bi-polar disorder, he will be paid 4000 pounds because the BBC did not take that into consideration and make provisions for him under the Disability Discrimination Act before he was removed from his position. I think that this article illustrated that gay people are not always the ones being harassed. It seems to me that most of the time homosexuals are presented as the victims less than the aggressors, but this article shows that it can happen the other way around. I do not think that Steer should be compensated after the fact for having bi-polar disorder, I think that should have been handled far sooner. I do not think that Steer was fired based on discrimination, but because of his behavior toward “Andrew.” I think that the BBC made the right decision to remove him from the workplace so that “Andrew” could feel safe. I speak from personal experience that when someone harasses others at work, removing the aggressor is the best decision.

photo from Gay Pride Ireland 2011

In the article from the United Kingdom’s Metro newspaper published on July 13, 2011, a claim is made by a woman that a brain tumor made her husband become a transvestite. According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary website, the definition of a transvestite is as follows, “a person and especially a male who adopts the dress and often the behavior typical of the opposite sex especially for purposes of emotional or sexual gratification.” In this news article, Olga Smith of South London is battling the courts because she was cut out of her late husband’s will. The couple divorced in 2003, but Olga claims that they were still in a relationship when he passed away in 2009. The reason she is battling the courts, is because she claims that her husband Thomas became a transvestite after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. She claims that he “would break into her room, assault her and wear her underwear…” When Thomas made his original will, she was included, but he replaced the will in 2005 after he was diagnosed with cancer and his transvestite behaviors had started. Olga is claiming that due to his actions after the cancer, Thomas was not of sound mind when he replaced the will and that she should still be entitled to what he has left behind. This article seems slightly far-fetched, but I cannot help but be curious if the brain cancer is what caused Mr. Thomas Smith to have transvestite tendencies, or if they were always present. According to WebMd’s website, transvestite tendencies are not a defined symptom of brain cancer, but “altered mental status and gradual changes in intellectual or emotional capacity” are. I think that there might be a slight possibility that these actions were a result of having a brain tumor. I found this article to be very interesting and controversial.

At this point in my blog I have realized that there is not much gay news coverage in printed newspapers unless there is a major law being passed, or a pride parade/rally/march taking place. Even then it sometimes does not make it to the front pages of the newspaper. The news coverage is so much easier to find on the internet. Even newspapers that seem to have no gay news coverage at all in the print versions of their papers have much more to read on their websites. This observance goes for both European and American newspapers. According to The New Yorker’s website, in America the average age of most newspaper readers is 55+ and most tend to be more conservative. We are part of a new generation and the gay community represents a large part of our population, I think that more news coverage would be a good thing in print media.

This article shows some of the negative community response associated with big businesses supporting gay rights. The article is from the American Family Association (AFA). The AFA is based in Tupelo, Mississippi and does not support gay rights. The AFA had a link along with this article that encourages people to boycott Home Depot, pray for the people there, and even sign a petition pledging to boycott them because of their support of gay rights. In June of this year, Home Depot sponsored a large float and a booth in the San Francisco Gay Pride parade and festival. The AFA does not support “the homosexual agenda” and very openly condemns big businesses taking the side of gay rights. I think that there is more condemnation of gay rights in the Southern “Bible Belt” region that anywhere else that I have traveled to. Everyone has a right to free speech and to believe what they want in the United States, so the American Family Association is just asserting what they believe is right.

Home Depot’s float in the San Francisco gay pride parade

Article posted Aug.1 2011 on www.AFA.net

London celebrates gay pride in Trafalgar Square.

Something that I did not know until I read this article was that openly gay men are not allowed to be boy scout troop leaders. In June of 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision saying that the Boy Scouts of America were legally allowed to ban gays from their ranks. The Boy Scouts oath states:

On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country. To help other people at all times, to obey the Scout Law, and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Based on the fact that the Boy Scout oath mentions being “morally straight,” the court had even further reason to support banning gays from being troop leaders because this statement has always been in the oath and was not added after gay men were removed from their positions as troop leaders.

According to Scouters.com, in the poem “The Voice of the Eagle” that is read at Boy Scout ceremonies, it states,

“I am prepared to cross all lines
of race, creed and nationality.”

The poem mentions nothing of sexual orientation. The Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America were allowed to ban gays because they have a right to freedom of association. The Boy Scouts also ban Atheists and Agnostics from being leaders of boy scout troops. I thought this was very interesting and I am not sure which direction I would have went in court. I understand that the Boy Scouts of America are entitled to selective membership, but it still seems like discrimination to me. This was an interesting piece of news media that showcased yet another decision against gay equality.

Voice of the Eagle

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to stand for the virtues
    of freedom, strength, and pride.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to serve my God
    my country and other people.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to stand for honesty
    truth and integrity.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to lead others
    to accomplish set tasks
    to the best of my ability.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to defend
    what makes America great…
    for all people.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to cross all lines
    of race, creed and nationality.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared to be self-reliant
    and resourceful.

I am the Eagle.

I am prepared.

© Judy McGorray 1996

New York celebrates the passage of the marriage bill

A gay couple celebrating after their wedding in New York.