THE QUEER MANIFESTO, THE GATHERING STORM

For years if not Decades or even Centuries, a certain portion of the population has used words like "Fag, Homo and Queer" to try and keep those of us born with different biology down and suppressed, if not stomped into oblivion. They use phases like "GOD hates Gays" to try and tel us to not be who we were born to be. They deny the science that says it's how people are made that makes us Heterosexual, Homosexual or Bisexual ad say we can just choose to be what they want us to be. Even the slang term "Straight" for Heterosexuals is clearly meant to imply that those of us who are Gay are somehow "crooked" and thus less of a Human Being, if even a Human Being at all. And they expect us to just roll over and play dead or sit when they say sit. Well, that ends now. We are here, and yes we are Queer, but we are not going anywhere. We are out of the closets, and we will not go back inside. Closets are for clothes, not for people. If one actually reads THE BIBLE, particularly The Words of Jesus, in whom we Christians Believe GOD spoke to us as one of us, GOD is Love, ,not Hate. Also, if those of us who are Gay are by our very nature evil, then that means that either GOD created something Evil, or Satan can create, neither of which area place I think any of us want to go. To those that say it's against Nature, I suggest they watch nature a it, because Human Beings are not the only animals who sometimes do same sex, for lack of a better term, coupling. So, that leaves us only with Gay Haters mere prejudice, and prejudice is a sign of small mindedness. It has no roots in anything objectively real, and only shows people's ignorance. So, I here name every Gay Hater a small minded and ignorant person. and I say, we're here,we're Queer ad we are not going anywhere. So any Gay Hater that is reading this blog had better just find a way to live with us. To any Fellow Gays reading this blog, I say let us make ourselves heard and demand to finally, fully be regarded and treated as full Human Beings by everyone, and let us not stop until we get there. Let us be a gathering and breaking storm that sweeps away all prejudice against us forever. THE STORM RISES, LET US RIDE IT TO THE END OF ITS RAGE.

THE QUEER MOON SETS

'THE QUEER MOON SETS' BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT Joshua could feel the early urges of his other nature as the afternoon wore on towards evening. He knew it would, it always did in the hours leading up to a full moon, and he always made sure that he knew when all of the full moons were. Monica was not expecting him home tonight, she understood about his condition, and while she didn't like it, she accepted it and loved him anyway. “For which I am very grateful,” he said aloud. “Not all women would be so understanding.” So now, of course, the question was where to go for tonight's transformation? He decided on his usual bar and headed there at once, wanting to be sure that he was in a safe place before the full moon rose and he transformed. The Queer Star was packed, as it always was on these nighs. “The usual I presume, Joshua,” called Daniel, his best friend and the Bar Tender, from looking around, the only “normal” one in the place. “Yes, thank you, Daniel,” he answered with a half smile, sitting down at the counter. He was happy to see his friend, but these nights were never sources of happiness. He preferred coming with Monica under other circumstances. “MR. Pearly Gates's usual,” Daniel called over his shoulder. Five minutes later Joshua Pearly Gates was drinking a large and steaming cup of ale and starting to look around. “Take your pick,,” said Daniel, noticing this. “Everyone here tonight is either a Normal Gay like me or a Were gay like you, and we're all here for the same one thing,” he said. “And it ain't the ale,” he added with a wink. Outside the sun set fully and the full moon rose, and Joshua Pearly Gates felt The Gay awaken inside him and in less than five minutes totally take him over. Joshua started looking around harder, having yet to close the deal in his mind and knowing what might happen if he did not do so soon. If we do not consummate before moon set, he thought. I will die. “I'm off in ten minutes,” offered Daniel. Joshua started to decline, then looked his friend over. He had never really looked at Daniel as a Gay before, since as a Straight Daniel was his best friend and he didn't want to mess that up. But, as he looked at him now, he realized that Daniel was extremely attractive. Bu there was still their friendship. “What happens on Gay Moons,” said Daniel, seeming to read his thoughts, as his friend often did. “Stays on Gay Moons.” Joshua nodded, sitting back to nurse his drink for the next ten minutes. But then, a rough hand grabbed his arm. “I'm not waiting for seconds,” said a very big and VERY attractive man. “You and me, upstairs, now!” “Go,” said Daniel with a smile. “I'll catch you next month.” The other man practically dragged Joshua up to the second floor and into a room, then closed, locked and bolted the heavy door. “You get undressed out here,” the man said. “I need to use the bathroom and then I'll be right with you.” Considering how anxious the man had seemed downstairs, any delay surprised Joshua, but he didn't see any harm in a short wait, and in any case he had no choice since he knew that the bolt was far too heavy for him. “OK,” he said, not knowing what else to say. “I'll be ready when you are.” His other self always dreaded these nights, but once he became a Gay he always enjoyed it. “No strings attached to these nights does have its benefits,” he mused. The stranger's quick stop in the bathroom turned into an hour, then two. “Hey,” Joshua called through the door,” I might need to use that too sometime, and I need to do it before moon set or I'll die.” “Sorry,” came a strangely muffled voice from the other side. “I just. . .” Then came a click from what sounded like the far side of the bathroom, followed a few moments later by a thud that sounded like feet hitting concrete, and then there was silence. Joshua waited a few more moments, then forced the door and entered the bathroom to find it empty. Running to the only window, he found it closed and locked from the outside. Then he saw the note on the mirror, written in red. “Die like the dog you are, Were Queer. You can not have sex with anyone in here, nor can you get out to meet your bar tending friend before moon set. I am with The Secret Sacred Conservative Police, and I have defeated you. Burn in Hell.” Joshua looked desperately around for something to break the window with, but his treacherous companion had thought of everything. Suddenly, as he saw the sky darkening with the setting of the moon, he felt a familiar sensation between his legs. But, this time, rather than ejaculating, his penis caught fire and soon his entire body was aflame. He gave one last, anguished scream, then exploded in a giant fireball. A pile of smoldering ash was all that remained when the hotel staff at last got in to clean the room.

HYPOCRICY AND LIES

Maybe those who oppose The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act should talk to their family and friends who have Preexisting Conditions and other ailments that made it impossible for us to retain Decent, Basic Health Insurance at an Affordable Rate prior to the new law. They might find that some of us are not asking for the government or anyone else to "give" us free Health Care as Mit Romney alleged in the 2012 Election, we would just like to have a market to choose from, unlike, as in my case, a Risk Pool required by State Law to always be twice the rate of comparable, private coverage as our only option, or, in other people that I have heard about's cases, no options at all. Those of us with preexisting conditions did not CHOOSE to have them, and a Truly Christian Society would not punish us for mistakes we made when we were eight year old children, as in my case, or something that some people were even born with. Anyone who would shut down the government to prevent Justice In Health Care from coming to be and calls themselves a Christian or any other mainline Religion is a Hypocrite and a Liar and should rethink one of these positions and drop it.

GAYS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIFE TOO

There are some in the non Gay Community who might say that this week's story is somewhat over the top. But as a person who is in fact Gay, some of what I hear coming from the mouths of some of the so-called "Religious Right" makes it seem like this is exactly the kind of action that some of them would like to take. For that matter, while perhaps not Officially Sanctioned by anyone But Fred Phelps, this is exactly the action that some of them have taken. Anyone who is truly "Pro Life" regardless of their personal feelings on the issue of sexual orientation,would stand up and make themselves heard against this kind of action, whether government or just mob sanctioned, because we are people too, and People Should Not Be Hunted Down and Killed Like Wild Animals, PERIOD. So I challenge all People who call themselves Pro Life to stand loudly against murder, even if they don't think Gays should have Equal Rights.

HUNTING US DOWN LIKETHE ANIMALSCONSEVATIVES SAY WE ARE, GAY HUNTING

GAY HUNTING. BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT The gavel came down with such force that not only it but the desk beneath it shattered. “And with that,” came the thunderous voice of The Speaker of The House, Fred Homophobe Hatemonger, with his Dread Pronouncement. “All Gays in this country can be hunted down and shot dead on sight like the dogs that they are. So ordered.” As if they hadn't already made it hard enough on people like me, I thought, then I fainted. “John always was a soft touch,” I muttered, looking at my unconscious brother in law. Then I pulled out my revolver and shot him once in the chest and once in the head, just to be sure. “You weren't much sport to hunt, Buddy,” I tell his corpse. “But then you wouldn't have been much sport awake either.” I leave a note of explanation for my wife, his sister, on his undamaged arm, then go out to hunt me some Gays that will, I hope, be a bit of sport to catch. Larry and I ducked into an alley and then an abandoned building. “I think we lost them,” I whisper in his ear. “I hope so, Paul,” he replies. “How did they know about us, though? I never told anyone. Did you?” I laugh. “With a family as Conservative as mine, if I'd ever even just played a Gay Character in a High School Play, I'd have been on the street, so no.” “I guess they have ways of knowing, somehow, to state the obvious,” my Boy-Friend replies. I nod, saying no more, for there is no more to say. When it has been quiet outside for some time, we leave the building, turn in opposite directions to avoid suspicion, and then I head for my home, assuming that he heads for his. My first night Queer hunting is disappointing. Sure, I track down and bag a few of John's friends I knew were Fags too like the dogs they are, but there are no surprises, no big catches, and no one that puts up much of a fight or a chase. I get home to find Liz burning her brother's body with the rest of the trash. “I was mad at first,” she tells me. “But then I thought about it and realized that you were right, he was a piece of trash and a waste of space and oxygen. Did you burn any more trash?” she adds with an anxious hunger. “Just a few of his Fag Friends,” I reply. “No big surprises or big catches. No live in action busts and kills, just people that I already knew about. No one put up enough fight or chase that I would personally even call it hunting, but maybe there will be some fun ones tomorrow night.” “I'll join you on that, Matt, MR. Matthew Thomas, I should say, Queer Hunter.” I chuckle. “Matt will do, Jane.” Larry and I stay out of contact as long as we can stand. Every night the news reports how many “Queers Bagged last night and today,” with no more comment or reflection than reporting the deer numbers in deer hunting season or the rainfall in wet season, which is pretty much all year in Vancouver, Washington, I thought one of the more Liberal cities in the country, but then, the whole Nation has gone mad with this 'Queer Hunting'. I hear from friends all over the country three times a week or more about more summary executions of People whose only crime is Being Gay, many of them teenagers too young to have ever done anything about it, even if it didn't take them as long to figure things out as it took me. But, of course, you can't stay away from someone you truly love forever. “Paul,” he says when we meet in the sub basement of a long abandoned building. “I know we have to be. . .” he struggles for a strong enough term. “Beyond careful,” he finally compromises on. “But I couldn't stand to be away from you for another hour.” “I know, Larry,,” I say. “I feel the same. But since we may only have a short time, let's not dwell on the outside world. Let's focus on us, at least for these few minutes.” He nods and we start to kiss. Suddenly though, I hear something. Footsteps? From Larry's suddenly wide eyes, I know he hears them too. “Let's get out of here,” I begin, when I hear to clicks, one behind me and one in front of me, behind Larry. “Too late to run, Queers,” says a harsh, female voice. “You broke the Laws of God and man. Now you'll pay. And don't expect any mercy from me, I burned my own brother's body this afternoon after my husband shot him because he was a Fagot, so we certain;y won't be showing any mercy to strangers.” “Why can't you just leave us a,lone,” I cry. “We're not hurting anyone. We're not even asking for the right to marry or anything, just half an hour togeth. . .” I stop and scream as I hear a bullet and then feel it connect with my skull. Larry is sobbing as another connects with his skull. Then my brain explodes in a red universe of agony and then everything goes black and is gone. Matt and Jane Thomas looked down at the corpses for a moment. Then they spat on them, poured the oil they had brought with them all over both, lit a match, threw it at the pile and then walked away from the burning pile of trash.

MURDER IS MURDER

How can the same people who espouse "Kill All The Gays" then go on to call themselves "Pro Life" just because they oppose a woman having control over her own body? Pro Life should mean all phases of life, not just until the end of The Birth Canal, and all people's lives should be equally valued. Would Conservatives be pro live birth in all cases if there was a test that could be done on a fetes that could determine with one-hundred percent certainty whether or not a child would be a Homosexual when he or she grew up. If no, then they are not truly "Pro Life" and if yes then they should let us live our lives without fear of being killed because of the biology we were born with. IT IS TIME FOR CONSERVATIVES TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE TRULY PRO LIFE, SO TO ALL OF THE CONSERVATIVES OUT THERE, I SAY, CHOOSE! NOW!

SECONDS FOR EVERYONE

SECONDS FOR EVERYONE' BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT “There should be no restrictions at all on who can buy guns,” said Colt Bonehead Oozy, The Head of The Nut Case Rebellious Anarchists on TV. after the latest shooting. “Everyone should have the right to buy a gun. The Second Amendment does not say “except children, except the mentally ill or except those with criminal backgrounds” it says “The Right of The People To Keep And Bare Arms Shall Not Be Infringed” Period. Therefore, all such restrictions should be done away with.” “At least,” I cried. “I can get a gun.” I'd spent the better part of my fifteen years in Juvenile Detention, mostly due to my schizophrenia and Multiple Personalities, Freddie, in particular, was quite violent, but I still ought to be able to target shoot if I want to. “Not so fast, Norman,”said my ,mother. “His opinion does not make it policy.” She was technically right, of course, but since both The Executive and The Legislative Branches of The Federal Government were firmly in the control of Republicans, and everyone knew that the top People of The Republican Party all but slept with Colt Oozy, I knew it was only a matter of time. To my parents horror, I was right. “Don't worry,” I told my parents as we watched President Fire Arm Gun Brain sign The Restoration of The Second Amendment Bill into law. “I won't shoot you.” “You won't, Norman,” said my father. “But what about Freddie. And what about people you don't like.” “I'll just use it for target shooting, I promise,” I said. “And only I will handle it. When I feel someone else, particularly Freddie, coming, I'll empty it and lock it up.” I don't think they believed me, but as I had been saving my money for years and there was a gun store a block away, there was nothing they could do. “I'd like a '38 Special, please,,” I said, walking up to the desk. “That's expensive, kid,” said the clerk. “You look a bit young to write a check, and I don't see any parents with you, so. . .” I pulled out my wallet. “Will five hundred cash do?” I asked, handing him five crisp one-hundred dollar bills. “They're real, you can check,” I said, sensing his next objection. “I've been saving for ten years.” Five minutes later I was headed for the door with my new gun. “So,” said a mocking voice I knew and hated all too well. “Retard Boy has a gun now?” I felt Freddie starting to come up, and fought to keep him down. “Yes, Charlton Wayne, and unless you want to have worse mental health than me, I suggest you keep your big mouth shut.” He starts to laugh, which is the one thing that I was really hoping he would not do. “Nobody laughs at Norman,,” I now Freddie say in my own voice, causing everyone else to back away. Before Wayne Charlton can respond, I load my new gun, put it right to his chest, look right into his wide and frightened and tear filled eyes, smile, and pull the trigger. Then I leave and Norman walks home and shoots himself in the head, not wanting to go to jail, and so we all eleven die.

THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE

Obviously, no one in The Tea Party has ever gotten a letter from a Health Insurance Company saying that because the company had found out that they had a Traumatic Brain Injury when they were eight years old, the company is cancelling their policy. As someone who has gotten such a letter and has consequently felt like all of those of us with "Preexisting Conditions" are regarded as subhuman for the past twelve years, I wish they would just let us be Fully Human again, since Obamacare's specific ban on the preexisting conditions exclusion specifically does restore our Full Humanity. Texas does have a Risk Pool that while required to always be twice the rate of comparable, private coverage, is still better than what people with preexisting conditions who live in States that do not even have this have had to deal with. But for me, it is not even about the money as such anymore. The U.N. Charter Declares descent, basic health care at an affordable rate as a Basic Human Right, and while I know that many on The Political Right detest The U.N., since The U.S. is a member, we are a party to that charter. Therefore, those that want to return us to a totally market driven Health Care System are denying the very Humanity of all of those of us for whom a Profits Over People Based Health Care System did not work. That is why I have felt like those of us with preexisting conditions were regarded as subhuman by The Health Insurance Industry and are regarded as subhuman by Republicans. So perhaps they could think on us before they make another go at derailing Health Care Reform and not think ONLY of trying to embarrass a twice democratically elected President of The United States, and think on the as well: AT LEAST HE DOES CARE, WHY DON'T THEY?

AN ULTIMATUM FOR JUSTICE

With all due respect to peace, love and understanding, there comes a time, there comes a point, when one simply has to stop apologizing for who one is, stop retreating, turn to face the foe, draw a line in the sand, plant one's feet firmly on the ground, square one's shoulders and draw one's sword. For me, that point came at Midnight on the night of Monday,, September Thirtieth into Tuesday, October First, 2013. For those of you who do not know, when I was eight years old I sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury as the result of being the pedestrian in an auto-pedestrian accident. Because of my "Preexisting Condition", for the past nearly twelve years I have been unable to retain Private Health Insurance and have had A Risk Pool required by state Law to always be twice the rate of comparable, private coverage as my only option. Bad as this may be, at least I have this option. I have heard stories of people with preexisting conditions in some States that do not even have this option. And then, right as those of us in this boat are on the brink of gaining some relief from this discrimination, The Republicans throw a Hail Mary Pass to stop it by shutting down the Government. Of course, this did not stop the already passed and funded law from taking effect. But that is beside the point that I am pursuing here. The Republicans have tried but failed for over two years now to undo this law, and yet none of the very few alternatives they have even put forward do anything to address the real, core problem with the old system, that it put making money ahead of taking care of Patients. I have no problem with the idea of making a profit on a commodity, but Life and Health are not a commodity, and yet The Republican Party seems Hell Bent on returning us to a system that treated them as such. They have crossed my line in the sand. I say NO MORE. This close to being regarded and treated as a full Human Being again, I WILL NOT GO BACK. So, to those of my so called family and friends who tend to trend Republican, I issue this ultimatum: Tell me, to my face,, looking me in the eyes the entire time, that those that oppose even one Comma of Obamacare do not speak for you, will not have your vote in 2014 unless they publicly come out for every comma of the law and you will end all association with anyone who does not completely come around to this position, or become my enemy. If you choose the latter, I will not act out against you in any way, but I will not come to your house for any reason, event or Holiday, I will not sit with you when you come to our house, and I will not sit with you in restaurants or anywhere else. You will be a stranger to me, even if I have known you all of my life. It is your choice, but make it soon, the longer this nonsense in D.C. goes on,the worse everything gets. To those whom I already know agree with my position on this matter, I also have an ultimatum, albeit a less extreme one, it is simply this: Either Stand beside me and draw your own sword to join mine, or get and stay THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY, BECAUSE AS OF MIDNIGHT LAST MONDAY NIGHT, I AM TAKING NO PRISONERS. THIS IS WAR!

BEING GAY IS NOT SO DIFFERENT

Just because a person is born with different biology, does not mean that we are any less Human. Those of us who are Gay have the same hopes, fears, aspirations and exasperasions as everyone else. We sleep, we wake, we eat, we laugh, we cry, we complain about the whether or the government or work or whatever just like everyone else. Some of us are sports buffs, some of us are not. We're really not so different. We just happen to be hormonally and romantically attracted to members of our own sex, not the opposite. But there are just as many of us that want a monogamous, committed relationship as Heterosexuals, we are not all after free love everywhere. So perhaps the rest of the world could just let us be who we are and love who we are able to. Just a thought.

MY OWN FAMILY WOULD DANCE ON MY GRAVE

When I was eight years old, I sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as the result of being hit by a car. Because of this, as an adult, once I became too old to be covered through my father's Health Insurance, I have been unable to retain Private Health Insurance because of my "Preexisting Condition". Obamacare makes it illegal for a private Health Insurance Company to do this, while no alternative put forward by Republicans even acknowledges that the term exists. So this latest, last ditch effort (and in the ditches it is, in every possible sense) to stop Justice In Health Care from taking effect to me really does feel like every Republican I know, including members of my own family, would dance at my death. If thus is incorrect, some Republican Reader can leave a comment explaining how, otherwise, I am right.

CONSERVATIVES' TRUE NATURE, DANCING AT DEATH

'DANCING AT DEATH' BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT “The young and the healthy should not sign-up for so called 'Justice In Health Care'. After all, what is just about forcing you to buy something you don't want and will never need,” I said on my latest radio interview. Of course, my colleagues on the left had a different view. “Anyone can have a heath emergency at any time, Lucian,” they said. “And if Healthy People do not sign up, The Insurance Industry will still refuse to cover People With Preexisting Conditions and the whole effort will have been in vain and will collapse.” “Which means what to me?” I asked bluntly. “People who made bad choices earlier in life should pay for them later in life. That's the way things work.” They became so flustered at this that none of them had an immediate answer and so I walked away. To their consternation and my delight, my fellow People on The Right in every possible sense of the word and my message seemed to be working. “Very few signing up for Health Insurance under 'Justice In Health Care',” reported the evening news anchor near the end of March, 2014. “Causing a danger of the whole thing collapsing.” Of course, they paraded a bunch of people who had not been able to buy Health Insurance under the old system and would not be able to maintain insurance coverage and get their conditions treated if the new system collapsed and their sob stories across the airwaves, but to my surprised delight much of the public was too clever to fall for that. On the critical day at the end of March, there are not enough Healthy People signed up and the new system breaks down, thankfully. “People denied coverage prier to 'Justice In Health Care' having their newfound coverage taken away all across the country,” reported the News Anchors across the country. “Operations halted, and patients turned out of the hospital in mid stream or mid treatment.” “You see what your kind have done, Lucian,” says the Democratic Majority Leader of The House when reports of these, can they really even be called 'people' dying in droves begin to come in. “It's not my fault they made bad choices earlier in life,” I respond. “Many of them were born with these conditions, and got them through no fault of their own,” she screams at me. “Or made mistakes as very young children. You can't classify them as criminals, or put them in that same class, for that.” I walk away before she starts crying, as everyone on the left, male and female, always does about this. A month after the deadline, the last already in treatment person with a preexisting condition who had their treatment halted when the horrible new system collapsed dies, and in the following weeks others with preexisting conditions and other restrictions under the old and, thankfully, restored system, also begin to die. By the time of The 2014 August Recess, everyone who could not get Health Insurance on their own merits is dead, and so when I get off the plain, I begin dancing in the streets. Soon I see an old friend and former colleague and when I tell him “I'm dancing in the streets because every American unworthy of Health Insurance is now dead,” he joins me. Soon, a large group of us are dancing in the streets at the deaths of those who were unworthy of lie anyway, and when a woman cries that her son was born with only one kidney and so it wasn't his fault, we sing “Proud To Be An American” so loudly that she is drowned out and leaves. I hear of similar street dances elsewhere in the county, in fact everywhere in the country we Republicans all dance in the street at the deaths of the uninsurable the entire month of August, and when I have to fly back to Washington for other business, such as dismantling Medicaid, at the end of August, the dancing in the streets at the deaths of those unworthy of any Health Care at all are still going on. SHUTTING DOWN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STOP HEALTH CARE REFORM IS NO BETTER THAN THIS AND THOSE WHO WOULD DO SO IN REALITY ARE NO BETTER THAN THOSE DANCING IN THE STREETS IN THIS STORY, IN FACT THEY ARE THOSE DANCING IN THE STREETS.