Small Town Boy's Political Perspective

Politics huh?  You Got It!
 

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Well, my political evolution IS quite a story!  For those of you who don't know me, I will have to fill you in on some of my past political paradigm for you to fully appreciate where I am politically today.  You can also read my coming out story and find out more detail and background on my political evolution.
 

As one can expect one to do when in the closet, an outward political veneer is also created to hide the real person inside.  I did exactly that and I wish I could tell some of the folks in college how sorry I was and just explain to them where I am now and why I acted the way I did back then in the '80's.
 

When someone is in the closet, they tend to overcompensate or over emphasize something to an extreme, which is a VERY GOOD indication that someone is hiding a secret; the very thing that they are screaming out against so vehemently!  I totally understand why you are doing it, but you know, is it really worth it?
 

When I was attending Albany State in the early 80's, I was a very confused young man due to the oncoming realization that I was gay.  Trying to understand why, how could it be, etc. etc. etc.; all the things that the religious right and the other homophobic fanatics were telling us was the right way to act.  My political paradigm at the time was a very, very hard core conservative; ones that the LGBTQ community really hates!  I was a staunch Republican Reaganuate and then some!
 

Outwardly I was acting like a conservative son of a bitch but deep inside I was really abhoring EVERY MINUTE of it!  It was a terrible feeling to have to live this other belief system to hide something SO SILLY as one's sexual orientation.  OH MY GOD, how crazy that all seems now!!!!!  I would act as straight as I could and renounce homosexuality, gun control, abortion, etc, etc.; all those right wing issues they love today.  To everyone back then that I offended, I must offer you a hearty, hearty and apologetic "I AM SORRY!"
 

So yes, I was one of those Republicans we LGBTQ folks so despise!
 

However, the agony and the internal strife was so incredible; so dehumanizing; so demeaning to my sense of self-worth and respect.  I really hated myself then for hiding and saying all the things I did.
 

Coming out has changed all that but I am only going to focus on the political changes here!  You can stay tuned for a lot of other good stuff that isn't political!!!!!  :-)
 

My political paradigm has so shifted from what it was in that the two paradigms have essentially switched places.  Now, my true outward political belief system is the one that I used to repress and try to hide and the old phoney one is buried, deep, dead as a doornail, never to return!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

So rather than give you this big elaborate explanation as to where I stand now politically, let me just make a few brief statements below and you will surely realize without a doubt where I am NOW!  However I will say that I just switched my party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and I feel great about it!  It is just a culmination of a process that has taken many, many years.
 

Equal rights for all should be a prime political objective implemented at all costs and not just given lip service anymore.
 

Respect for established precedent set with Roe v. Wade be firmly and unequivocally upheld by the United States Supreme Court.
 

Gay marriage is an inherent right protected under the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, guaranteeing equal protection to all.
 

Components of the Patriot Act should be allowed to expire due to their overly restrictive and intrusive nature.
 

 Assisted suicide should be legal and guaranteed as strongly as abortion rights.
 

 The current administration has no logical exit strategy for Iraq.  We are in that pit indefinitely with no coherent vision of how to effectively deal with the Iraqi situation.
 

Tax exempt status should be taken away from the far right, bigoted religious institutions that actively and outwardly exercise and facilitate political activity and to actively lobby for and  against issues that are not inherently religious in nature.
 

Public television should be funded more heartily because of its objective and educational aspects informing the public of facts based on documented truths.
 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the People for the American Way (PFAW) Amnesty International and other similar organizations are integral components of a free society.