Since the intentional misreading of the Sodom and Gomorrah story in Genesis 19 in the Bible where the twin cities were supposedly destroyed because of homosexual depravity, the causes of natural disasters always find ways to be placed on the backs of LGBTQ Americans. It has become an easy go-to explanation. And, usually by Bible-thumping…
Aug. 19 I went to a Rock Church, Point Loma conference entitled Transgenderism: A Faith Based Perspective. Denise Shick of Help 4 Families, whose father was both transgender and a child abuser, gave the presentation on how she believes fundamentalist Christian churches should respond to transgender people. As the name of Shick’s small organization implies,…
What is our obligation during teachable moments? When we witness misconceptions or a complete lack of understanding about the LGBTQ community, sexuality or gender, are we – as members of that community – obligated to speak up and educate? Does our firsthand experience and knowledge create some unspoken commitment, or are we allowed to hold…
“Sometimes when I try to understand a person’s motives, I play a little game … What’s the worst reason they could possibly have for saying what they say and doing what they do?… How well does that reason explain what they say and what they do?” – Lord Petyr Baelish, Game of Thrones After watching…
Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. In North America, the total eclipse of the sun starts here. It’s Woodstock for everyone. Local and state governments are doing their best to avert chaos. Everyone in law enforcement and emergency services will be either on duty…
When a group says it wants to go mainstream, the group needs to worry about their optics and messaging. If a group wants to take part in peaceful assembly and engage in public discourse, then peaceful means they use to disseminate their ideas must match the peaceful ends they seek. The group self-identified as the…
“You’re such a great ally.” After I advocated for an elderly patient and her partner by reminding staff to be sensitive to the unique needs of LGBTQ older adults, my coworker spoke these words to me with genuine appreciation. My reaction surprised me. I was thrown, not knowing how to respond. Did I thank her?…
San Diego County is in the midst of a Hepatitis A outbreak. It started in November of 2016, and as of Tuesday accounted for 333 cases, 232 hospitalizations and 11 deaths. For a county of 3.3 million that may not sound like much, but it should give us pause. We have the tools and information…
After almost three decades, many discussions, meetings, two mayors giving their support (Golding and Filner), proposals, controversies and two task forces I can say that San Diego will finally join other major cities across the United States and will have an AIDS Memorial to remember the over 8,000 men, women and children who have died…
Fifty years ago, this summer an urban rebellion took place. One hundred and fifty-nine riots erupted in African American cities across the country. The civil unrest took place in cities like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Birmingham, and Boston, to name a few. The worst riots that summer were in Newark, New Jersey and Detroit, Michigan. The movie…
