Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. I wish I had realized it sooner than coming into work and looking at my calendar. While I am not Jewish, nor of any Hebrew ancestry, and my German family was in the ....US.... long before the events of WWII, I still have great reason to recognize this day and its significance. And that is because I am a homosexual. It took a long time after WWII for information about LGBT persecution during the Holocaust to surface. Some even still deny that the Holocaust was as bad as we have been told, or even happened at all.

In 1897, a Jewish doctor by the name of Magnus Hirschfeld co-founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee in Berlin to campaign against a law that made sex between men illegal. The group also sought social recognition of homosexual and transgender men and women. It was the first public gay rights organization on the planet. In 1919, Dr. Hirschfeld co-founded a sexual research institution which was a pioneer in the call for social acceptance and civil rights for homosexuals and transgender people. Prior to the rise of the Nazi party, Berlin was a very liberal city with many gay bars, including drag bars where straight and gay tourists alike enjoyed the acts of female impersonators. German Jews were a major part of the gay rights movement in German due to their involvement in the arts and film community which had a large concentration of homosexuals.

Enter the newly appointed and elected conservative government…the Third Reich. Despite theories and supporting evidence that he himself may have been a homosexual, Hitler’s official stance was that homosexuality posed a threat to the capacity of the state and the “masculine character” of the nation. Because gays could not reproduce and perpetuate the “master race,” they found themselves at odds with Nazi principles. We do have to give Nazi’s credit though for realizing that it was not a religious issue. There was actually fear among the party of a “gay gene” contamination. Himmler viewed homosexuality as a hereditary weakness and later had doctors experiment on gays and lesbians in order to locate the cause.

Then, in February of 1933, the purge began and the Nazi party invaded and shut down clubs in Berlin and banned organized gay groups. Once Hitler solidified his power, he included gay men among those would be sent to concentration camps. There they were labeled first with yellow armbands and later with the iconic pink triangle. Lesbians were not as harshly persecuted, however. While they were viewed as a threat to state values, it was thought that they were easier to persuade to comply with accepted behavior.

While the estimated gay population of Germany at the time was a little over 1.2 million, only 100,000 were charged. Of them, 50,000 were sentenced. Most spent time in regular prisons but an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 were sent to concentration camps. The death rate for these men was 60% due to the unusually cruel treatment they received from both their captors and their fellow inmates. Many were beaten to death, forced to do more grueling and dangerous work assignments in labor camps, or became the subject of medical experiments in attempt to find a cure for the gay gene.

After the events of WWII, anti-gay laws remained on the books throughout most of ..Europe.. until the 60s and 70s, which made it difficult to find information on the Nazi’s treatment of gays and lesbians, due to the reluctance of witnesses. Since then, multiple cities have erected memorials to the memory of the thousands of Homosexuals persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust.

While the Holocaust of Nazi Germany is over, we must not allow complacency to blind us from the modern threats that the LGBT community faces, both at home and abroad.  While countries like England, Spain, and Canada are offering full protection and full rights for LGBT people (including marriage equality), our own country is struggling with the issue state by state. Even in areas of our own nation were equality is or was already granted, radical right-wing groups are using religious fundamentalism as an excuse to deny or take our rights away. Forget the pseudo-scientific ethics of the Third Reich’s excuse. These people claim that homosexuality is a choice and that it is against God’s law. They claim that by giving LGBT people equal rights, we will be harming the youth of the nation and future generations (youth and generations which overwhelmingly SUPPORT full equality for LGBT people). Most of them agree with, but will hardly ever admit it publicly, that gays and lesbians are a direct threat to their “Christian nation” and must either be forced to change or be exterminated. They even go so far as to claim that GOD allowed such horrendous events as 9/11 to happen because we are tolerant of homosexuality.

In the mean time, militias of Sunnis and Shiite men in Iraq (you know, the country we freed from oppression and are basically in charge of at the moment) are systematically hunting down suspected homosexuals and torturing them to death by super gluing their anuses shut and force feeding them drugs which cause excruciating and then fatal diarrhea. While no such torture has yet been called for publicly here in the US, we aren’t far from it. Though the people who are actively seeking to eliminate rights of LGBT here in America have not gone to such extremes, I would not personally put it past them. People like Karen England with her Capitol Resource Institute or Maggie Gallagher and her National Organization for Marriage claim they are only seeking to protect their own religious freedoms but base their groups on the single issue of denying LGBT people equality. And just like their predecessors (the Third Reich, the KKK, the Aryan Nation, Anita Bryant), there is little doubt that they will simply stop at denying further equality and won’t continue on until they strip all of our rights. Oh, they will try to be polite about it in public, paint their faces all nice for the interview, claim they love the sinner but hate the sin, but behind closed doors they are just as vehemently for our extermination as the rodeo patron in Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie Borat. You may remember him from the scene were Cohen, acting as the character Borat, says that in his home country of Kazakhstan, homosexuals are executed by hanging. The rodeo patron (not an actor) replies “That’s what we’re trying to do here, too.”

While the adults of the LGBT community are at the forefront of the battle, fighting court cases and protesting in public, it is the LGBT YOUTH which are suffering the most in the US. Conservative school leaders block the creation of Gay Straight Alliance support groups and more and more stories of anti-gay bullying leading to tragedy are being reported. Within the past two weeks alone, there have been two notable suicides. Two 11-year old boys from different parts of the country hanged themselves because they could no longer cope with the anti-gay bullying that was heaped upon them by other students. It is not known whether either of these boys were actually gay or not, but it is known that school officials did NOTHING to end the torture their students constantly faced. And let’s not forget victims such as Lawrence King, an effeminate 15 year old boy who was shot twice in the head by a classmate, just for being gay. And yet when we try to bring such events and issues to the attention of the community through PSAs or events such as the National Day of Silence, we are railed against by fundamentalist groups such as Karen England’s who claim that we are imposing sexuality on children and infringing on the religious freedoms of the Christian students who do the bullying. While they claim to be protecting the youth America by basically advocating the mockery and bullying of gay youth, children are dying…by both their own hands and by the hands of others. I asked a friend to flag a video that Capitol Resource Institute put on Youtube which advocated parents removing their students from classes on the National Day of Silence and basically says that bullying the gay kids is okay because Christianity says homosexuality is wrong. My friend (a closeted bisexual) said that the video is terribly ignorant but doesn’t warrant flagging. My response? “Ignorance is neither excusable nor forgivable if it helps to create an atmosphere which leads to the death of even only one innocent child.”

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. The persecution of homosexuals by the Nazis of WWII Germany is over. But the LGBT community of the world is still under attack. These attacks range from subtle legal action, to the down right horrific. We must never forget path of history that put us where we are today. We cannot continue to allow ignorance to rule a society, for it will lead to the persecution, torture and death of thousands, if not millions. I wish I had realized sooner what day it was. I would have worn a Pink Triangle in solidarity with and in remembrance of all those who went out into the world before me and suffered and fought and died for being who they truly were. And so today I ask each and every one of you to do what you can to stomp out Ignorance. A very wise Jedi once said “Fear leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering.” That little green sage forgot something though…Ignorance leads to Fear. Those who are ignorant of the past are destined to repeat it.  Always remember where we came from and how we got here. Always remember what took place to put the world in the state that it is…

For it is the doom of men that they forget.

Dear Ms. Gallagher,

I recently watched your debate with Human Rights Coalition’s Joe Solmonese on MSNBC’s program Hardball. After hearing your side of the discussion, I feel compelled to contact you in regards to some of the erroneous points you made while on air.

You and your group’s advertisement bring up several events that occurred in various states which you have latched onto as points against the marriage equality movement. You and your group’s advertisement have boiled those issues down to such a simplified statement that they bear little resemblance to the actual events they are referring to. I could spend the time to go over the events and explain what really happened to you, but I feel this would be a waste of time, as this information is readily available and has already been twisted by your group to suit its own viewpoint. However, it all boils down to the fact that these events had absolutely NOTHING to do with marriage equality and everything to do with the pre-existing anti-discrimination laws that were on the books in the states these events took place in long before marriage or civil unions were available to LGBT people. You’re advertisement, filled with gloom and doom, claims that same-sex marriage advocates won’t stop at simply getting their rights, but will continue on to infringe on the rights of others. Yet the laws that were at the heart of the events that are mentioned were already in place BEFORE the marriage equality issue was raised. I’m sure I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask out of morbid curiosity: Why are you using these incidents to attack same-sex marriage rights and not the pre-existing anti-discrimination measures which were clearly the real issue?

In a response to an email you recently received from another person questioning your motives, you wrote “I could say: why are you trying so hard to change the public meaning of marriage? Why not focus on benefits?” I’m sure that by now, you are aware that the real issue here IS indeed benefits. This idea that the LGBT community is attempting to change the public meaning of marriage is quite preposterous, considering that a marriage means something different to everyone in the first place. Furthermore, marriage has been redefined by every nation, culture, religion, and society throughout the history of the world. I would remind you that this notion of “one man, one woman” marriage is actually very recent in regards to the span of human history and not this notion of a “5,000 year old tradition” that some people with your viewpoint cling to. From the various forms of polygamy in the Middle East of Biblical times, to the arranged marriages of Hindi and Medieval Age Europe, to the actually documented same-sex marriages that occurred in the ..Roman Empire.., it’s quite clear that marriage is redefined by everyone who gets married.

In that same email, you also wrote “Why do you need to try to force the law to say something that most Americans just don't agree with: that your relationship is a marriage? It probably wouldn't be a productive conversation but just so you know there are two points of view on this.” My counter to this is that, unfortunately, “most” people can be wrong, and often are. I’m sure you’d be on the side that thinks “most Americans” were wrong in voting for President Obama. “Most” people once thought that the world was both flat AND the center of the universe. “Most” people in America during the Revolutionary and Civil wars thought that slavery was acceptable and held the view that black slaves were not people, but property. “Most” people once believed that women should not be allowed to vote. And of course, “most” people in 1967 America believed that interracial couples should not be allowed to marry.  It took “activist judges” to correct that issue. Of course, the state legislature of Vermont are not “activist judges,” yet I’m sure you don’t agree with their recent marriage equality ruling. Your side instead thinks that these lawmakers are out of touch with the public. But the purpose of the government is not only to rely on input from the public, but also to protect the public from itself. A member of the British Parliament once wrote “A representative owes the people not only his industry, but his judgment. And he betrays them if he sacrifices it to their opinion.” Personally, I prefer the more humorous “Never underestimate the power of Stupid People in Large Numbers.” Now that could easily be used by either side of this argument. And you are certainly correct in saying that it probably wouldn’t be a productive conversation as each side is just as set in their belief that they are right as the other. However…

History shows us that our side, the side of Marriage Equality, will come out the victor. This fight is almost Machiavellian in a way. A subjugated and suppressed people can only be put down for so long before they stand up and demand their rights. A slave has nothing to lose and everything to gain, while the oppressor has everything to lose. And despite how the “Christian Right” or the “Moral Majority” enjoy portraying themselves as the oppressed victim, they are actually the oppressors. What this battle truly comes down to, madam, is that you and your associates are using FEAR to deny a basic civil right to a group of people based entirely on religious principle,  a religious principle that is quickly becoming obsolete and archaic. And despite how strongly you and your associates may feel you are in the right, I have no doubt that future generations will, and already do according to most polls, see you as being on the wrong side of history. Today’s youth already overwhelmingly support full rights for the LGBT community. You and you’re association will eventually be seen in the same light as the Aryan Nation and the Taliban. Frankly I see very little difference between the villains who destroyed the Twin Towers and people like you, who are using archaic religious fundamentalism to deny a group of long oppressed people their basic rights.

If you are indeed more concerned about your own rights than the rights of gays and lesbians to get married, as you so claim, than might I suggest taking a different approach? Instead of rallying your troops against marriage equality and using your fear of government interference in religion because of it, how about simply trying to retain your own rights. I beseech you to lay down your arms against same-sex marriage. All you are doing is showing the world that you are filled with hate towards the LGBT community. Nothing good can come from opposing another groups rights. Instead of being on the negative side of the marriage equality battle, make yourselves the positive side of your own battle. Stop seeking to deny gays and lesbians their rights, and start seeking only to protect your own. I’m sure it’s quite possible for a group as intelligent as yours to wage the fight for your own rights without attempting to take away the rights of others or even mentioning the other groups battle for equality. Certainly no one on the side of marriage equality is actively trying to deny religious institutions their freedoms. If you really do fear that some of your religious freedoms are endangered as a side effect, than take up your own fight to protect those freedoms. Do not waste your time only trying to deny others theirs. I have my doubts, however that you and your kind are able to do such a thing. I doubt very highly that this is really about retaining your rights and more about denying us ours. I have no doubt that your real concern here is your outdated moral view of same-sex marriage and not the possible ramifications of its legitimization for your side. But again, if you are truly only interested in protecting your own rights, perhaps instead of attacking gay rights laws, you should be attempting to strengthen your already existing religious protections. By leaving out any mention of the LGBT Civil rights fight, you would certainly be seen in a better light by the majority of Americans. But as I have already said…the Majority can be wrong.

I plan on using the above letter to make a Youtube video similar to V's Guy Fawkes day speech in V for Vendetta.

    Since the Catholic Church came to power in the middle ages, there is one group of people the Conservative Christian movement has feared above all others: The Gays. Despite the various other cultures and peoples that they have had issues with over the past 1500 years, the Gays have always been the 1 threat. Why? God Said to Peter that, as Gentiles, the ancient laws of the Jews would not apply to the Romans and the European converts, thus negating the Old Testament argument that man lying with man is an abomination. This, being an ancient Hebrew taboo, would not hold sway over modern Christians. Yet the Gays have always been feared and hated. The only thing the Catholic Church could really fear would be something possibly more powerful then themselves. As we learned from a great teacher, "Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to Hate." This could be an analog for the modern story of the X-men - people who are born differently but have amazing abilities and are thus feared by the people in power. Could it be that the gays have secret, superhuman, almost mutant-like abilities? Lets look at the historical facts behind this theory.

    When the Pope outlawed sodomy in the Dark Ages, he had to give a legitimate, nonreligious reason for the law. His reason? "It is a well known fact that buggery causes earthquakes." Hmmm, so the Pope himself thinks that gay sex has the godlike power to split the earth's crust. Now for those of you who think this is outdated and unfounded, talk to rabbi Shlomo Benizri, a conservative Jew who is fighting the gay rights movement in Israel. Less than a months ago, he claimed that, "A cost-effective way of averting earthquake damage would be to stop passing legislation on how to encourage homosexual activity in the State of Israel, which anyways causes earthquakes." So Moses could only part the Red Sea, but the gays can rend the ground asunder...interesting.

    During the Middle Ages, the gays were also persecuted for other reasons. The most popular reason was witchcraft. If this were true, it would mean that the gays have a power over nature itself. So the gays have powers over the Elements? Well, stereotypically, gays are good swimmers, have been called "flamers", generally prance around like Sylphs (air elementals), and we already know that they can cause earthquakes. Earth, Air, Fire, Water...the only element missing to complete the witchcraft theory is Spirit. Oh wait! Early prehistoric man and many modern third world tribes make homosexuals their Shamans and medicine men. This was popular amongst Native Americans who referred to these people as TWO SPIRIT - having both male and female sprits, thus making them a more powerful and "perfect" being. Ancient Superstition you say? I would point your attention to the story of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore - The former headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and most powerful wizard in the world. As recently revealed by the author of this tale, Dumbledore was a homosexual.

    Still not convinced? The other aspect of the modern day superhero is amazing physical strength and prowess. Well, in ancient Greece and Rome, homosexual acts were accepted as almost commonplace and even revered within the athletic world. Original Greco-Roman wrestling was done in the nude (as were all the sports at the time). The winner would then sodomize the loser in order to further demonstrate his dominance. This shows us that homosexuals make great athletes. While modern day masculinity opposes accepting homosexual athletes, they clearly exist. Swimmers, Gymnists, Footballers, Futballers, Baseballers, and Basketballers continue to either play openly, or come out of the closet after they have left the game. But for the real (and most recent) proof of the physical superiority of homosexuals, I give you Keyontyli and Taleon Goffney - gay twins who were arrested in Philadelphia last week for breaking and entering. According to police, these two nearly super human homos had been using their impressive acrobatic and martial arts skills to scale walls, leap across rooftops, and slip through holes in ceilings to rob the ATMs, cash registers and supply rooms of dozens of businesses that were closed for the night. One had been previously under surveillance for selling drugs but cops were admittedly afraid of him because they would see him practicing martial arts and literally running up walls and doing back flips off them. When he was caught selling drugs, he smashed a hole into he back windshield of the police cruiser WITH HIS HEAD, slipped through the opening and, while handcuffed, dove into and swam across a pond like a dolphin, thus evading police.

    Many other correlations can be drawn between homosexual abilities and those of comic book superheroes and villains or even powerful mythological beings. Modern Evangelical leaders are the first who are willing to tell you that homosexuals have an almost godlike ability to spread disease across the globe in no time. One of the most popular names given to homosexuals is Fairy. Fairies are mythological beings who, though tiny and in small number, have immense magical powers and are not to be trifled with. Homosexuals are also reported to have a great power of seduction, causing straight people to turn gay even for a few minutes or to lure children into their lifestyle. This bears a striking resemblance to tales of sexually predatory demons such as the incubus or succubus. Studies also show that homosexuals are, on the average, more intelligent and creative than heteros. Examples of this can be seen in the military genius of people like Alexander the Great or Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben and in the creative genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, both purported homosexuals. One could say that, being able to whip up a party or create a stunning fashion design out of nowhere, homosexuals are able to produce something from nothing – a form of prestidigitation. And everyone knows that they are avid shape shifters, able to blend in and infiltrate any crowd of people. Some of them have even reached high positions in the organizations that oppose their lifestyles, such as Ted Haggart. They can even go so far as to seemingly change their gender, if only for the length of a Madonna or Cher musical number. The list of their impressive powers goes on and on.

    It becomes clearer and clearer that the gays do indeed have some kind of super powers. The question we have to ask ourselves is if these "homo-superiors" pose a threat to society. While some of them, such as the Goffney brothers use their abilities towards selfish and destructive means, most of the gays use their powers to benifit modern culture. So are homosexuals the next form of human evolution? Are the gays mankind's guardian angels and some, like the Goffneys, have simply fallen from grace? In the end, only time...and extensive genetic testing will tell.