Right off let's put aside the "garbage" chatter about 'homosexuals" ("queers & fags") that every driver hears on the CB radio. I have had "gay" friends and business colleagues. That would be "homosexual" men and lesbian women. We know, although at present unquantifiable, that there are many gay and lesbian truck drivers. Whatever their profession, I strongly feel that one's "sexual" preference and lifestyle is their personal business. I don't care. If they choose to discuss it with me, I'm glad to listen. No harm, no foul, as the expression goes. I believe that most people who hate gays - put them down, discriminate against them or worse, harm them are unintelligent, unworldly, uneducated and scared individuals. I suspect that they also have much to hide (personally) and most likely equally dislike themselves. But, everything is not shall we say, good. What I mean is, as a 50+ year old straight male, two men kissing is not only extremely bothersome to me, I have to turn away. That is the opposite with two females kissing. I cannot explain this. With my wife, I tried and failed to watch "Brokeback Mountain." A lesbian (dyke, lipstick, whatever) calling another female her husband is very strange to me. I don't like it, but I cannot explain to you why. A man calling another man his wife seems, for lack of any other intelligent description, weird. I have been married to the same remarkable woman for 30 years. Sen. McCain, the apparent Republican candidate for President (as well as Gov. Huckabee and other "conservatives" ) talk about their support of an amendment to the Constitution stating that (traditional) "marriage" must be between a man and a woman. I am truly bothered by this. Not being gay and being annoyed by men calling men their "wives" is irrelevant. What irks me about such legislation is that our government is unlawfully messing around in people's personal business and telling folks what not to do. It seems like a clear violation of church (doctrine) and state. If gays truly want to get married, then they should, despite how I and other might feel about it. If "they" want to serve in the military and be "open and honest" about their sexuality, they should have that right. Again, despite how I and other feel about it. This is not an issue where the majority rules. It is an issue of the minority having the same right and privileges as the majority. It should not be the "business" of "our" government. ** I chose this photo (by Tina Fineberg Associated Press 6/24/07 http://amny.com/) because it is completely not representative of a gay or lesbian individual - I used it because I know that many people, when unfairly judging gays, well this is what they "picture" in their minds. We all agree that using parallel logic that when the "public" thinks of the "typical" truck driver, long unwashed hair, tattoos, a pack of Camels, a worn smelly ball cap, torn jeans and missing teeth are the stereotype and norm.
