Tuesday Twofer

I spent a lot of time napping in the last twenty four hours, but I did manage to clear my feeds and catch a couple of movies too.  I ran across two stories that I thought would be of interest to you my loyal readers.  I know we have all heard all of the hullabaloo regarding the incident in Ferguson, Mo, but that is not the only incident revolving the loss of the life belonging to a young black man coming out of the state of Missouri.  In an opinion piece in the US edition of The Guardian authored by Zach Stafford, the author examines the death of young black men, homophobia and hate crimes legislation.  Stafford's Black, Gay and Shot Dead in His Own Car:  This is another Missouri killing we should talk about, tells us of the shocking and complicated death of 22-year-old Dionte Greene, who was shot and killed on the morning of Halloween in his still-running car, possibly by a “straight” man who may have agreed to meet him for sex.  I n the beginning of the  article Stafford posits two questions: "Can you hate part of yourself so much that you want to kill people like you? And is that a hate crime?"  He then attempts answer those questions in the discussion that follows.  Unfortunately the conclusion is almost too sad to contemplate:

"Sitting there with Coshelle (Dionte's Mom) on the couch where Dionte slept, I thought about my own mother, who never cast me out of her own life, and how we both had mothers who loved us, Dionte and me, and families that took care of us, and how we as black gay men can do everything right – and still end up dead for being gay and black anyway."

Staying in the Midwest for the second part of this Tuesday Twofer we cross the Mississippi River into Kansas, heading over to Topeka.  Topeka is most famous as being the home of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, some times termed the most hated family in the US for their virulently offensive anti-Gay protests that started with the picketing of Matthew Shepard's funeral after he was beaten and left to die on  across buck fence in Wyoming.  The story I would like to point you to is the story of Zach Phelps-Roper, grandson of founder Fred Phelps who is the latest in a line of defectors from the family based hate group.  His story, Exiled from Westboro, leaving America's most hated church, as told by by Mike Spies on Vocativ relates Zach's journey from brainwashed child raised to hate 'sinners' to the young man who is out to not only save himself but other members of the WBC also.  Zach has channeled the hate he grew up with into love for others and himself.  His best friend since leaving the WBC compound is a former high school classmate named Theo English, who happens to be gay.  Although Zach is not Gay and still has hopes of marrying a lovely woman sometime in the future, Zach no longer "hates fags" as he was taught to do.  The story also delves into the history of the WBC, the incident that started the whole 'God Hates Fags" thing and the remarkably disheartening attitude of Zach's mother, Shirley Phelp's Roper.  When Spies asked her about the situation with Zach her reply was absolutely chilling:

“There’s only one thing to say about that heartbreaking situation,” she says. “He has blasphemed. I only care that he repent. If not, he will surely be destroyed with the rest of this nation.”

“He wanted me to tell you he missed you.”

“I’m absolutely certain he does miss me,” she says. “He knew we loved him. But you have to decide: Do you serve God or the child?”

“Do you miss him?” I ask.

“It’s irrelevant,” she says. “God or the child?”

How incredibly callous of her.  Unfortunately, she is so consumed by hate, she can no longer love anyone, perhaps not even herself.  What is really sad is the hope waiting to be crushed as Zach asks Spies, “Hey, did you ever speak to my mom?”  Before I can answer, he says, “I know she definitely misses me.”  I don't want to be the one to tell him his Mom refuses change and will never admit to 'missing' her excommunicated son.

Both of the stories above are compelling reads which illustrate not only how far we have come, but how far we still have to go before "Can't we all just get along?" comes to pass.  

You Tuesday Musical Moment features the 12 Triosonatas for two Violins and Basso Continuo of Johann Philipp Krieger.  The trios are performed in a variety of combinations of Violins, Viola de Gamba, Harpsichord, Lute and Organ by Parnassi Musici.  You may also hear Krieger's Sonata Seconda for Violin and Viola de Gamba, Opus 2 performed by Hippocampus over on my tumblr. 

Then this collection of lithesome lads looking to lead you down the garden path in this edition of Tuesday's Temptations will be sure to spark the appropriate response when you cruise down the page to peruse all the beauty on display.  Then for those that like a little ginger spice in our lives, your, Hottie of the Day!, Ginger Snap 102, over on my tumblr.will definitely have you panting for more.  Thanks for the visit, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!