Richard Norway

Why is equality so not tolerated? Last year the Domestic Partnership bill lost in the New Mexico Senate by one vote. About an hour and a half ago, it lost again, but this time by 25 to 17. What happened to the senators that voted for us last year? I had mentioned in another forum here about this historic legislation here in New Mexico. I feel that I need to report the sad results. I think I'm going to go outside right now...and scream my head off.

Satisfaction? SATISFACTION? I didn't get any satisfaction. All I got was a view of how my life (or fantasy life) played out to worry about. You did your job Des, you got people to think. I'm not alone, as I'm sure that many readers had to think about what they themselves have fantasized about....or did. Our stories seem to end as Nifty stories end, they just end. Wonderful writing, but I think it wasn't just about someone's fantasies. It was about what we as sexual humans fantasize about and what is reality. Makes you think, huh? I sure did. Great job, oh Master intellectual.

I really liked that, Des.

I'm sorry James, but I couldn't disagree with you more. We're not falling apart, we're regrouping, as we should. I don't feel that we should attack our society without some way to get out of the mess we're in. Please offer one. And I don't want to hear dooms day stories. What should we do to make it right? What are your ideas? Should we have a revolution? And do you really believe that? I have faith in the system because I have a vote that I can exercise. Yes, corruption happens. Then stop it by your vote. Do what you can.

OMG! OMG! It happened today finally after all of our efforts. Please read the article in the Southwest LGBT Press below http://nhcv.blogspot.com/ Click on the link to the New Mexico Independent newspaper story

I've been selected (read ordered) for jury duty five times in my life. I sat three times and was thrown out twice on a preemptive. Each time I sat on a jury, the one thing that really hit home to me was that the system works. I really felt that we, the jury, were trying to do our best. Maybe I was lucky to get the judges that I did, but his instructions were for justice first, that the defendant is truly innocent until proven guilty. I think maybe I was lucky. But James, I have to only partially agree with you. Some courts don't work, but I cannot say that all of them don't work. I've seen them. It's a never say never or never say always thing, just never lump all into a single category. Some work, and some don't. Fight the ones that don't. Our system isn't perfect, but we have the option to try to change the parts that are wrong. Pessimism will get you an early grave, and Pollyanna optimism will also get you there. We just do what we can without giving up.

I have to agree with Cole. I could never come up with a story that is so unbelievable like this one. How in the world did it happen? I guess it did. We, as a culture, have obsoletely no understand of how we influence our future as a society by what we do. These kids (teenagers) will be part of us when they're released. Can they now (given the negative view coming from what they're taught) be productive or even life fulfilling. i doubt it.

Calm down Cole. I can see that you're upset. But you're right in that where we live and try to thrive has a major impact on how we communicate. I live in New Mexico, and like you, we have a major Hispanic culture here. I need to learn Spanish, not to just talk to people, but to understand my neighbors. to be a part of their humanity. I think I'm not the norm here. Many people that I talk to refuse to learn Spanish, thinking that we're in America that that they should learn English. Stupid, stupid, narrow thinking Making a specific language a requirement is just plain foolhardy and a dip into the past. We're a worldwide society (especially with the internet), and communication (and understanding) is paramount. I wish more people understood that. Neil, you're from a different culture and can see the paradox here. We want to get to know you, but are resistant to understanding your culture through your language. We're not alone, it happens all over the world. We're just people with our unwarranted biases.

The question of the morality of sexual expression between an adult and a minor has plagued me for a long time. I'd like to comment on Des' comments about youth/adult relationships. On the one hand, the laws are written to protect the minors. That on the surface is quite laudable. A questioning teen wants answers, but those answers can be devastating if he/she gets the wrong ones. They are vulnerable and quite open to exploitation, hence the laws that we have. I think the laws are heading in the right direction. However, they are so shallow in thought that they lump all teen sexuality with an adult into a narrow 'one case fits all' scenario. The other hand has the idea that a teen is mature enough to make up his/her own mind and should be allowed to follow his/her own instincts. That's not entirely true either. Remember, the teen years are a time for growing up, of discovery, of finding oneself. It's not just the gay society, but also the heterosexual society, that has a fixation on youth. We all look at our youth of by gone days and dream of recapturing it. But...pedophilia is wrong. It's taking advantage of someone that is vulnerable. But a loving, consensual relationship also needs to be recognized. Laws need to be revised to allow for each case to be evaluated on the individual merits of the relationship between the two people. The current blanket sentence for a sexual relationship between a minor and an adult is as narrow as you can get. Yes, some of these people need to go to jail. And some of them need to be praised for having a loving, understanding, altruistic relationship. I have never had a sexual relationship with a minor, nor do I even want one. I'm older and don't relate to teens that well. But their (along with their partner's) humanity needs to be understood and respected.

James, That was simply awesome. I was mesmerized by it, but I was also very frightened. At the first line I was thinking of the fires in OZ and began to see the terror of what has happened there. You did your job. You made me think...really think.

I agree with Cole. I too was drawn into the story right up to the last line. Great short! But you'd better watch out for Cole and any introductions. He just wants to feel em up.

Is it online, and how do I find it?

Thank you guys. I love Flash Fiction because it's so challenging. My mind has such a short attention span that it's a great vehicle for me. I think Terry GOT what Chris was thinking, and I didn't say it, but Terry's epiphany should have had him crying. The last sentence summed up his epiphany....without saying it.

Just a little thought that I had this morning. SPIDER by Richard Norway A small harmless house spider walked along the sidewalk with all of its legs scrambling to get to the other side, to the safety of the lawn. It seemed frantic to get out of our way as Terry and I approached. SLAM Terry?s boot came down and crushed the spider. I looked up at Terry, bit my lower lip. ?Gotcha.? was all he said. 'What is it about our lives that make us so callous to the other lives around us? Are we so wrapped up in our own world that we forget about those around us? Or is our fear of those around us so ingrained that we feel the need to constantly defend ourselves? Is that fear really fear of ourselves?' I thought. ?What?s wrong Chris? It was just a spider.? ?But it was alive, Terry.? ?Not anymore.? As Terry?s eyes focused on the sidewalk in front of us, we made our way to our high school to start another Monday of classes. I watched him closely, seeing that look of defiance, of self satisfaction that he had just controlled his world again. I knew Terry was afraid of being outed at school, but the spider was something that he could control. The insecurity of others was something that he could not control. He could control how he himself acted, how he could deny who he and I are. I turned from him, sadly thinking of Terry, my boyfriend, my boyfriend who wouldn?t admit to himself who he is...and because of that...who I am. I knew that Terry was afraid. Terry was even afraid of me for what I represent to him. Terry stopped moving, he no longer appeared next to me. I turned around and saw him standing on the sidewalk, staring at me. Then I noticed his eyes. ?Chris?? ?What is it? What?s wrong?? Terry walked up to me, stared at me for a moment, and slowly wrapped his arms around me. ?Chris. Something just happened to me.? ?What?? I didn?t know if I should be concerned any longer. Terry waited, still holding me tight, and then tighter. ?I think I might have just killed myself.? ?What are you talking about?? ?Chris, that spider was...was me.? Terry and I came out to the high school that morning.

I was in Denver this past weekend attending the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's "Creating Change" conference and brought a book along to read. Actually, David was attending the conference, and I stayed in the hotel room working on my second book, but when the emotional roller coaster of my story got to me, I took a break and picked up the book that I had brought. I couldn't put it down and finished it in two settings. It's "A Secret Edge" by Robin Reardon. Here's her web site. http://www.robinreardon.com/books/secretedge.php I believe she's a straight woman, but her understanding of what it means to be a gay male teenager is encouraging. It's a heart wrenching story right up to the very end.

Hey Paulie. Good to see you here.

Cole, that was great, and it brought back a lot of memories. When I was in high school, I worked part time as a stock boy for a local drug store. I used to get the cashier to sell me condoms at the employee discount and then would take them to school. The guys were so embarrassed to buy them themselves, so I sold them to anyone who wanted one...for $ 1.00 each. And that price was back in 1962. I was making a killing

I just finished reading "Something About Trevor" by Drew Hunt. I'm surprised that this hasn't been nominated for The Best Of Nifty before now. I recommend it wholeheartedly! http://nifty.guiltygroups.com/nifty/gay/be...g-about-trevor/

I watched that movie tonight... I watched... and I watched... and I watched what we as a people have done to ourselves, to our future humanity. Am I crying right now? Yeah, I am. And, I'm not crying for Bobby. I'm crying because I CAN'T save all the kids. I can't do a fucking thing to stop the ignorance, to stop this unrequited hope of what they can become. What the hell are we doing? I'm sorry. It's really not you, not the people on this board. This should be on my blog, not here. But, I thought that you would be understanding. The first GLBTQ Center in New Mexico WILL open this June 20th. We will have (more than ever now) a teen center as MY first project to provide hope, education, but more importantly, a place of acceptance and safety. I can't save them all. I probably can't save most of them. But if I can save one...just one...kid from killing himself, then whatever I do, no matter how many hours it takes, it will be all worth it! Sorry. I needed to vent. This movie will be shown again tomorrow night and then again on Tuesday. If you haven't already, please watch it.

OMG! It looked like the last time I beat my brother at croquet at the last family reunion. My side of the family is so passive compared to my brother's side that we only threw 3 chairs while his side threw not only 6 chairs, but the 2 tables as well. Oh man was he excited. But you should see him when he really gets mad. His kid BIT my kid! But it's okay though. We all have our rabies shots up to date.

I too had such emotions as Des of hope and elation over hearing the words spoken during the inaugural ceremonies, but I found out how far reaching those words actually were when I read from the following link. http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/ It includes President Obama's full agenda. But it's more than that. That page represents to me a total change from the paranoia of the previous administration to real openness in government. Virtually EVERYTHING that we have been hoping for, fighting for is there. I was so overcome by the completeness of his agenda regarding GLBTQ rights that I shed a tear of joy...and then another...of real hope.

Attack! Attack! I just love it.

Very cleaver Bruin. I totally missed the obvious.

Geees Trab, you're not alone. Steven, you're killing all of us. THE F...ing emotion, angst, fear, dread, eventual hope was beyond belief. So short, but so much was told...perfect flash fiction.

This link has gotten off topic a bit and seems to have become a venue for people's emotions. There is another topic where Des has expressed his emotions as well, and I would like to bring us all back too that. We are acting like they do! We're focusing on our anger instead of focusing on how we get the world to accept the obvious. We're here and have been always here...a fact of life. Our goal should not be on expressing our anger (which leads to confrontation), but rather on education of who we are...a part of humanity. We're not going to ever be accepted into society until society understands that we a part of that society.