[T]hat is not the America I know.

The America I know is full of courage, and optimism, and ingenuity. The America I know is decent and generous. Sure, we have real anxieties—about paying the bills, protecting our kids, caring for a sick parent. We get frustrated with political gridlock, worry about racial divisions; are shocked and saddened by the madness of Orlando or Nice. There are pockets of America that never recovered from factory closures; men who took pride in hard work and providing for their families who now feel forgotten; parents who wonder whether their kids will have the same opportunities we had.

All that is real. We’re challenged to do better; to be better. But as I’ve traveled this country, through all fifty states; as I’ve rejoiced with you and mourned with you, what I’ve also seen, more than anything, is what is right with America. I see people working hard and starting businesses; people teaching kids and serving our country. I see engineers inventing stuff, and doctors coming up with new cures. I see a younger generation full of energy and new ideas, not constrained by what is, ready to seize what ought to be.

Most of all, I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together – black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young and old; gay, straight, men, women, folks with disabilities, all pledging allegiance, under the same proud flag, to this big, bold country that we love.





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If you need it to sound more like Trump, just pretend in the middle somewhere that he said he wanted to kill a hooker and feed a dead cat to an ATM.

Many many moons ago when I was seventeen we started doing life drawing at my school. there were a few models they used but the most common two were a lady about thirty, nice looking, slightly plump but attractive and Alan. Alan was a thirtyish year old gay guy who was just very average looking. Physique wise he was 5' 10" or so, maybe just under 200lbs, slightly balding, wore glasses. Nothing offensive but as a seventeen year old lad I obviously started off preferring drawing boobies to schlong.

Thing is, I always drew better when drawing Alan because I just wasn't as distracted I suppose. He was a really nice guy and we got to know him pretty well over the year or so we did the class. I'd grown up doing a lot of sailing at a club with communal showers for the men so naked guys were no mystery to me. I wasn't offended by him and he certainly never did any poses like the guy in this video.

Fast forward ten years and I'm at a friend's house party. I know about half the people there and there's a lot of people from her work that I don't know. She worked at a medieval castle as a wench for their banquets and a lot of her actor colleagues were there. I kept catching the eye of this guy, forty years or so old, 5' 10" and just over 200lbs, pretty bald. You know when you get that feeling that you know someone? The face is familiar but you can't for the life of you remember where you've seen him before. Worse was the feeling that it was someone I knew quite well, not just someone I'd bumped into in the supermarket or something like that.

He looked puzzled by me too and we eventually got talking in the kitchen about where we knew each other from. We went through everything, from what we did for a job, where we'd worked, where we lived and drew blanks every time.

We went further and further back in time until he stopped, grinned and said 'you didn't go to Woodland's school did you?'

In that instant I knew exactly who he was, laughed and completely without thinking blurted 'Alan! I didn't recognise you with your clothes on!'

Of course it went quiet and I had to explain to my wife why I didn't recognise the gay guy with his clothes on (not helped by the fact that it was an all boys school). I still have paintings and drawings of him in my attic somewhere, which my wife was 'thrilled' to be shown!

Life drawing is great, and you don't need a 'fit' or attractive model. Anyone will do, in fact the more normal the better I think. It helps you look at what's there rather than any sort of ideal you might have in your head.

there is an adorable old man who lives a few houses down from me. on the top of his mini van, he's rocking an enormous sign that reads "www.gayprideorSHAME.com" ... he had always set my gaydar a buzzin.

after a few days of seeing this, i got curious... is he advocating being proud, instead of ashamed, of your sexuality? because that would be awesome!! it's possible that i am in love this adorable old gay man!!

so i checked out his website.

he, of course, wasn't advocating the abandonment of shame and embracing sexuality. he was doing exactly the opposite. pure nonsense and drivel.

i am still torn between the parts of me that have a tendency to commit witty acts of vandalism all over bullshit hateful signs in my community. and the parts of me that have a tendency to adore deranged old people and just want to play dominoes with them and make sure they eat hot meals and take their medication on time.

hey....i am gonna promote one-a-yer yer pqueued vids ya international gay pride fanboy...

http://videosift.com/video/Rob-Halford-with-Black-Sabbath-Faries-Wear-Boots

You'll throw this^^^^ one back for another spin??....Old gay dudes with 4 octave ranges KICK FUCKING ASS!!!!

...writing all over myself with old ink jet cartridges. Old... gay ink jet cartridges that have their fluid all hard and sticky stuck inside them -- Ya gotta squeeezzzeeee it hard to get that ink out. Just squeeezzzeee and -- oh, there it is. Ahhh, got the last drop.

Steller, I upvoted your second comment, because I didn't see any reason it should be downvoted.

I believe Gay people should have all the same rights that Straight people do, including marriage.

Multi-marriage is a different issue, and honestly one I haven't given much thought to. If polygamists want to make their case before the courts, I think they should, and I'll listen with an open mind. My impression of polygamy is that it seems to generally be psychologically unhealthy and unfair to the women. Polygamy is also often linked with incest, abuse and child molestation.

These crazy Mormons --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVGK2Aa4uEk&feature=related creep the hell out of me, but you are free to make the case for polygamy if you like.

--Comment edited because: I thought you were arguing against gay marriage with the old gay-marriage-leads-to-polygamy-leads-to-incest-leads-to-bestiality-leads-to-necrophilia-slippery-slope-argument, but you are actually arguing in FAVOR of polygamy. Sorry for the misunderstanding. More power to ya' then.

http://www.videosift.com/video/No-Country-For-Old-Gay-Men

I believe you missed this great post of YDJ's. Soooo frightening, yet fab!