I'll fly away

there’s a brook babbling to my left.
I take another step.
the gradual incline has set my calves on fire.
another step

I see sheer cliffs and towering pines.
my tristful soul is floating among them
whispering with the wind.
another step

the fire spreads
burning the lining of my stomach.
the sun is setting on the peaks to the west.
there are other people climbing those sierras too.

I lie down to rest,
but the fire does not subside;
it spreads, the flames grazing my jawbone.
all I want is to rest.

“won’t you take me home?” I plead, searching the heavens above.
I close my eyes, searching for peace.
the fire is consuming my soul;
the same soul floating above the pines.

bright beams of ivory and lemon scratch at my eyelids.
the sun is beckoning me to wake up.
I am not home.
I am still on the mountain.

I can’t see the peak of my Everest.
I wonder if I can fly home from there.
I want to fly home.
the colors from the rising sun warm my face.

the fire isn’t burning as strong now.
I hear a bird jubilantly crooning overhead,
and I take another step upward.
the fire stoked with every step.

I enjoy the landscape and the beauty of the climb,
although this mountain is not my home.
each day my soul is kissed by scorching flames
each day I climb until I can’t do it anymore.

I am shackled to this mountain
there are cold iron shackles on my ankles
someday I will find a key,
and I will fly home.

-- stanley alvey

LGBTQ Youth Resources: How To Stay Safe Online? [A Complete Guide]

Are you facing trouble to gain help from LGBTQ community because of threats online? A complete guidance is always required which will help you to get connected with your community. Staying safe online, at the workplace and in your local community is always an important part. Here is a guide on LGBTQ Youth Resources which you can follow.

LGBTQ Youth Resources: How To Stay Safe Online? [A Complete Guide]

Click below for resources: 

 

LGBTQ+ Online Security: Complete Guide (A guide. No lectures. No jargon. Just real tools for staying safe while living out loud. This was written for people who’ve already had to delete photos, change numbers, log out of themselves to stay safe.)

Pants on fire...

"The Russian Federation is not creating any obstacles for the passage of ships or vessels. We are not preventing anything," 

--Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the blocking of grain and ports in southern Ukraine

Quote of the day

“We are fighting for our freedom and our land. We are fighting for the future of our children and grandchildren, for their life and opportunity to build a new Ukraine.”

--Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Homosexuality vs. Homophilia

We are all familiar with the word "homosexual," which means "same sex (or gender)" in Greek. However, few among us have ever heard, or used the word "homophile." In the strictest sense, the word means "same love," growing out of the Greek prefix "homo" and the Greek suffix "phile." There is a negative connotation as it has that -philia in it.  It means "love".

Homosexuality simply refers to sex between two (or more) members of the same gender. Homophilia, on the other hand, refers to love between two (or more) members of the same gender. Why is it that we have all heard, and used, the word homosexual but never, or rarely, use the word homophile?

Historian Michel Foucault argues that homosexual and heterosexual identities emerged during the 19th century; before that time terms described practices and not identity. "Homosexuality" was a carryover and described the practice (the act) of sex between two (or more) members of the same gender. As it was the most popular term among psychiatrists, who still maintained it was a mental illness, it made its way into popular culture as a means of identifying those individuals who were attracted (physically) to the same gender. Love was never a part of the equation.

Popular in the 1950s and 1960s (and still in occasional use today, particularly in writing by Anglican clergy), the term homophile was an attempt to avoid the clinical implications of sexual pathology found with the word homosexual, emphasizing love ("phile") instead. The term homophile began to disappear with the emergence of the Gay Liberation movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s, replaced by a new set of terminology such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender, (LGBT), although some original homophile groups survived until the 1980s, 1990s and even the present day.

In almost all languages where the words "homophile" and "homosexual" were both in use (i.e., their cognate equivalents: German Homophil and Homosexuel, Italian omofilo and omosessuale, etc.), "homosexual" won out as the modern conventional neutral term. One exception is Norwegian, where the opposite happened, and "homofil[i]" is the modern conventional neutral term for "homosexual[ity]" in Norwegian.

Today, in stark contrast to the original meaning, the word homophile is used to describe an individual who accepts homosexuals, a supporter of certain rights of homosexuals, one who has positive thoughts about homosexuality, or an advocate of its social acceptance.

Happy PRIDE Month!

 

I hope that you are all enjoying and participating in PRIDE month! We have come a long way. Plenty to celebrate!

Something to ruin your childhood...

 

Art by Dennis Carlsson - Swedish Tattoo Artist - Owner of Swedish Tattoo, www.youtube.com/User/Disse86

Gay Kiss Cam

U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Roe vs. Wade

The Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively ending recognition of a constitutional right to abortion and giving individual states the power to allow, limit, or ban the practice altogether.

The ruling came in the court's opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which centered on a Mississippi law that banned abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Republican-led state of Mississippi asked the Supreme Court to strike down a lower court ruling that stopped the 15-week abortion ban from taking place.

"We end this opinion where we began. Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives," Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court's opinion.

This is a huge step back for women's rights.

Survival Quiz

 

Click above

Record your scores in the 'Comments' section!

OUTLIVE Homophobia

 


OUTLIVE HOMOPHOBIA. Click here for OUT Saskatoon's Website

Three Little Pigs

Three  Little Pigs went out to dinner one night. The waiter came And took their drink order.

"I would like a Sprite," said the first little piggy.

"I would like a Coke," said the second little piggy.

"I want beer, lots and lots of beer," said the third little piggy.

The drinks were brought out and the waiter took their orders for dinner.

"I want a nice big steak," said the first piggy.

"I would like the salad plate," said the second piggy.

"I want beer, lots and lots of beer," said the third little piggy.

The meals were brought out and a while later the waiter approached the table and asked if the piggies would like any dessert.

"I want a banana split," said the first piggy.

"I want a root beer float," said the second piggy.

"I want beer, lots and lots of beer," exclaimed the third little piggy.

"Pardon me for asking," said the waiter to the third little Piggy,"but why have you only ordered beer all evening?"

You're gonna LOVE me for this....

The third piggy says - "Well, somebody has to go 'Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!"

Subscribe to 'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow

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The Monday Morning Test...

Click above. I know it's a Monday morning test, but what the hey..do it on Wednesday.

The Wizard scored 11/11. Was there any doubt? After all, I am 'OZ' The All-Powerful! 

The Only 7 Star Hotel In The World

 

Click above to have a look inside!

Stewie's Package

OUTLIVE Homophobia

OUTLIVE HOMOPHOBIA. Click Above to visit OUT Saskatoon.

Two ladies talking in heaven:

1st woman: Hi! My name is Wanda.

2nd woman: Hi! I'm Sylvia. How'd you die?

1st woman: I froze to death.

2nd woman: How horrible!

1st woman: It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm & sleepy, and finally died a peaceful death. What about you?

2nd woman: I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act. But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.

1st woman: So, what happened?

2nd woman: I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I had looked everywhere,and finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died.

1st woman: Too bad you didn't look in the freezer---we'd both still be alive.

Appropriate?

TODAY'S STOCK MARKET REPORT

 

Helium was up.
Feathers were down.
Paper was stationary.
Fluorescent tubing was dimmed in light trading.
Knives were up sharply.

Cows steered into a bull market.
Pencils lost a few points.
Hiking equipment was trailing.
Elevators rose, while escalators continued their slow decline.
Weights were up in heavy trading.

Light switches were off.
Mining equipment hit rock bottom.
Diapers remain unchanged.
Shipping lines stayed at an even keel.
The market for raisins dried up.

Coca Cola fizzled.
Caterpillar stock inched up a bit.
Sun peaked at midday.
Balloon prices were inflated.
Scott Tissue touched a new bottom.

And batteries exploded in an attempt to recharge the market.
Kite sales hit an all-time high.
Fish sales were floundering.
Yo-yos were going up and down.
Yachts were all wet.

Playground equipment went on a slide.
Ice machines were frozen solid.
Paper shredders were tearing up the market.
Fencing was having a field day.
Windows were breaking all records.

Javelin sales had missed the mark.
Hunting equipment is being scoped out.
Gravel futures are bumping along.
Airplanes have gone sky high.
Parachutes seem to be drifting.

Frog legs took a jump.
Medical supplies increased microscopically.
Jazz sales are swinging right along.
Cannonballs are simply exploding.
Diamonds are starting to sparkle.

Rubberband sales are tight.
Suspenders are just holding their own.
Mouse sales have been squeaking by.
Books have just about recovered.
Running shorts are now on track.

Seat belt sales have been constricted.
Building supplies are going up.
Glue seem to be stuck.
Candy futures are looking sweet.
Valium sales are depressed.

Steering wheels have turned the corner.
Kitchenware is really cooking.
Spatulas are experiencing a big turnover.
Hydraulic jacks are slowly going up.
Bed sheets are selling short.

Boxer short futures won't be brief.
Clock sales are ticking along nicely.
Railroads are now on track.
Golf carts are about par right now.
Sandpaper is having a rough time.

Nails are taking a real hammering.
Bolts are slipping but nuts are making a big turnaround.
Soap has been slipping badly.
Shampoo is down a hair.
Springs are bouncing back.

Cracker sales are crumbling.
Energy issues are shocking.
Dryers are spinning out of control.
Washing machines are just going through a cycle.
Exercise equipment companies are sweating.

Food profits are being eaten away.
Medical supplies do not look healthy.
Bricks are looking good on Wall Street.
Ladders are beginning to lean a little.
Cardboard boxes are packing it in.
Electric fan sales are breezing by.
Tractors are ploughing right along.