I am just about to head out to San Jose to spend the day and then to the airport. I can´t believe 10 days is already over! This has been such an amazing experience and I will definitely be back to Costa Rica!

I´ll have MANY pictures to post when I get back.

Adios!

- posted by Wes @ 8:58 AM

This is going to be a quick one. I am up in the mountains of Quepos (yes the epicenter of the 6.2 earthquake the night before I flew into Costa Rica!) This country is absolutely beautiful.

San Jose has so far had the best night life, but the city itself is a little funky.

Been 45 stories on a wire above the canopy-been in mineral hot springs flowing out of a volcano-been swimming in waterfalls - been sitting poolside watching spider monkeys and iguanas. I am REALLY enjoying this country.

I ditched my tour today to hang out solo and meet some locals.

We're in Manuel Antonio for the next two nights. It's supposed to be the "gayest" area outside of San Jose. We'll see... ;)

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

- posted by Wes @ 10:09 AM

Costa Rrrrrrrica!

Well, I made it. Don´t know if it´s made the news yet or not but once again - natural disasters and I go hand in hand. :) As I was leaving the country last night I received a call from my parents. There was a 6.2 earthquake 100 miles outside of San Jose, CR. I can now add earthquakes to the list! HA!

I´ve been up now for almost 24 hours. Had an interesting flight - a red eye with almost no sleep...details soon to follow. The weather is gorgeous and so is the country. The mountain ranges covered in lush rainforests are breathtaking. I can´t wait to venture out!

In one piece.

-W

- posted by Wes @ 5:37 AM

Hey All!

I know the last few posts have been a little down and political. As down as we're all feeling there are a few things to remember.

1) It is ok to be frustrated, hurt and down. Take this time to mourn the loss of some amazing momentum in our movement, but then realize it's time to regroup, reorganize and continue the path to equality on whatever level you are involved.

2) Even though there was as slight majority in this last election, half of this country wanted a change in administration and in turn proved that we do have the support that we will need to eventually get the full rights we deserve.

3) It is now up to each of us to lead by example and to create the visibility needed to start changing minds. This is the time to begin building bridges to the straight community. We need to stop having a dialogue with people who agree with us - and begin the dialogue with people who don't. (Yes, the red states) This means coming out to colleagues. This means talking to Mom and Dad about who you're dating. This means loving and respecting who you are and not hiding it - living just under the radar. (I do understand that this is not safe for everyone's situation-that's why it is important for us who it is to keep pushing and fighting for the underdog.)

So chins up - it's a new day and we have a CRUCIAL four more years to keep up the fight to ensure we're no longer second class citizens.

Yours in Struggle.

-W

- posted by Wes @ 11:41 AM

Well, the last few weeks have hurt. A lot.

I think a lot of my friends' and my response has been to start looking at other countries who love and support their citizens; but then I thought - what are we leaving behind? We are leaving those in the LGBT community who aren't able to flee their bigoted states. We are leaving behind a place where discrimination and bigotry are becoming law. Is that fair to our community? To our society? Is that fair to ourselves? The answer is no.

I was sent this article today and the fight is beginning. The younger generation is NOT going to let their community become a cesspool of hate.

Take a look at:

http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/11/12/4194a044c492b

This is inspiring indeed. There's a storm-a-brewin' and all of you self righteous, bible thumping, "moral majority" need to get ready. If you subscribe to the "good word" then remove the plank from your own eye and realize that on judgment day it's going to be you who is questioned for your behavior - not our community.

Live and let live.

Yours in struggle.

- posted by Wes @ 1:54 PM

By WC

From millions of throats and more there rose a lusty yell; it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;

it pounded through on the mountain and recoiled upon the rolls; for Kerry, mighty Kerry, was advancing at the polls.

There was ease in Kerry's manner as he stepped into his place, there was pride in Kerry's bearing and a smile lit Kerry's face.

And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his brow, no stranger in the crowd could doubt t'was Kerry here and now.

120 million eyes were on him as the results came filtering in. 55 million tongues applauded when we thought he would win.

Then, while the southern states voted Bush one by one, defiance flashed in Kerry's eye, knowing Ohio would be won.

And now the results came hurtling through the cold winter air, and Kerry stood a-watching them in Boston’s Copley Square.

"Too close to call!" Wolf Blitzer said.

From homes across the nation, there went up a muffled roar, like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore.

"Kill him! Kill Wolf Blitzer!" shouted someone on the stand, and it's likely they'd have killed him had not Kerry raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity, great Kerry's visage shone, he stilled the rising tumult, he bade the race go on.

The night was getting late, and CNN saw it through, Kerry and Bush sat quietly and Wolfe Blitzer said, "Bush, Ohio goes to you!"

"Fraud!" cried the maddened millions, and echo answered "Fraud!" But one solemn look from Kerry and the audience was awed.

They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain, and they hoped they wouldn't loose this race to Bush again.

And now the right wing holds the ball, and they've let us know, America has been shattered by the force of this mighty blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright. The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.

And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,

but there is no joy in America -- mighty Kerry has struck out.

- posted by Wes @ 6:03 PM

Well, it's here. What a painful last four years. I have been rather quiet lately about the election and my thoughts on what's happened to our country in the last months leading up to the election. We are on the eve of what, I think, will be one of the most important elections in our history.

I have watched "spin" after "spin" out there in the media and it's just out of control. I had become burned out and just wanted to vote my vote and ignore all the ludicrousness. It wasn't until I spent some time with a friend last week that my political fire was re-ignited and I realized I haven't been pushing quite as hard as I had been this last year.

A friend of mine (who is Republican) and I do not see eye to eye on politics. For me this has been fine because we make it a point not to mention the war, presidential race, politics, etc...etc... Well, at present, how impossible is it to NOT talk about politics? It has engulfed this country. I guess it's a good thing that people are actually waking up and taking notice of what's going on around them. I am, however, disappointed at how divisive politics has become.

As my friend and I were talking pros and cons of the last four years and Kerry's ability to lead this country, I became incensed. As I debated, it became clearer and clearer what an abomination George W. is. When it comes down to it - the Republican platform wants to take away my rights as a citizen, in turn destroying my opportunity to create a family. Isn't that what this country was founded on - opportunity and the pursuit of happiness? What hurt me the most is a friend of mine could support someone who would take my family away from me.

Will a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage ever pass? Probably not - but as a community (gay or straight), are we willing to take that gamble? And what kind of hate messaging is this administration sending to our young LGBT kids out there struggling with their own sexuality only to be told by their government that they are not equal citizens. What kind of hate is this administration teaching all of our children. No. This is not right.

I posed a question to my friend:

"If George W. Bush proposed a constitutional amendment banning marriage in the Mexican-American community would you vote for him?"

"Of course not!" was the answer.

I posed another question to my friend:

"If George W. Bush proposed a constitutional amendment banning marriage in the LGBT community would you vote for him?"

There was no answer.

I posed the questions again.

Again, no answer.

What is so scary is that this is the voice of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, out there who are headed to the polls tomorrow. The ideal that racism is intolerable but homophobia IS ok and can't be part of the "big picture" of issues is frightening and sad.

I don't know what the outcome will be tomorrow - or if we'll even have an answer by the end of the week. (voter fraud already rampant) If this country puts George W. back in office, what message are we sending our own citizens, our children or the world?

I think it would be a safe assumption to say most of you who visit this site are fairly open-minded and somewhere left of George W. Bush - but for those of you who might want to make that vote for GWB tomorrow ask yourself the two questions above. If your answer isn't, "Of course not," to both of these it speaks volumes on your stance about homosexuality.

I am a proud, gay man. I will have full marriage rights in this country. I will build a family. I will live my life surrounded by the love and support of that family. Anyone who wants to take away this "God given right," I say...Bring it on.

- posted by Wes @ 3:33 PM