Here is a special message for you from our great-great-gay grandfather, Walt Whitman. Celebrate the 100th aniversary of Leaves of Grass. Hear what our queer ancestor has to say.
John Smid and me-Graduation 1998 (above) & John Smid today (left) By now many have heard that Tennessee's Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities determined that the "ex-gay" program, Love in Action, is operating two “unlicensed mental health supportive living facilities”. LIA has until Friday, September 23 to respond. If LIA statements in Eartha Jane Melzer's article are indicative to how the "change" program might respond, we may see LIA change right before our eyes from a clinical mental health compound into a house of praise and worship. Gerard Wellman, business administrator for Love in Action, and a former Love in Action client, said Sept. 13 that the organization has been in contact with the state but would not comment further. “As a church, we operate under a different set of rules,” Wellman said. Curious, and what rules might these be? What is even more curious is that according to LIA's site only one staff member ...

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I love Walt Whitman...this bit is one of my favourites...
"This is what you should do: Love the earth and sun and animals,
despise riches, give alms to everyone who asks,
stand up for the stupid and crazy,
devote your income and labour to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God,
have patience and indulgence toward the people,
re-examine all you have been told in school or church or any book,
dismiss what insults your very soul,
and your flesh shall become a great poem."
I can't listen to the audio post atm, no speakers on the PC, so I'll look forward to listening to it at work tomorrow :)!
CA
That is so lovely and noursihing. THANKS!
What a lovely poem. A lovely sentiment and a lovely idea.
Thanks for that!