Comments on: APA: Gay marriage bans harm mental health

By: Gerry Fisher

Gerry Fisher — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:45:29 +0000

As a licensed, clinical social worker who has bailed out of the medical counseling machine, I get so sick of mental health professionals trying to pathologize what I would call normal human experiencing. This is especially true when they try to say that situation X causes mental illness in group B; that kind of generalization is not very helpful in understanding why some people reframe and cope, and why some people fail to cope.

A group loses an important political battle that involves civil rights and very practical family issues, and we are upset. Sounds normal to me. Let’s not call that “sick” or “bad.” It’s not always a bad thing to get upset. Note all the essays about “the new community energy” coming in the wake of the Prop 8 decision.

By: John Bisceglia

John Bisceglia — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:56:49 +0000

PROP 8 passing led to a horrific re-triggering of my PTSD. I was back working again after years of difficulty(disabled by discrimination), then PROP 8 passed and I snapped. More tax dollars have been spent on me due to PURE discrimination than anything else. Ironic. My response? National Equality Tax Protest is on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

By: LOrion

LOrion — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:57:04 +0000

DUH! Read wonderful piece by KKendall on the GRIEF Reaction we are all having as of midnight Nov 4. chaning K-R’s 5 stages to : SHOCK, ANGER, BLAME, ACTION, RESOLVE.

“If there was ever any doubt that we are a movement, that has been put to rest. If there was ever any suspicion that we are too complacent to organize and show our outrage and our resolve, that suspicion has been obliterated. This has been a very dark time…it is becoming clear to me as I pull myself out of the pall that this community is not about to remain silent, we are not going to slip back, we are not going back into any closet, anywhere. We are resolved to never take our equality, anywhere, for granted.
With all due respect to Kubler-Ross, there will never be acceptance.”

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:55:07 +0000

I wonder how much time and money was spent on THIS “study.”
Yeah, I’M PRETTY EFFING STRESSED NOT KNOWING IF MY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL ANYMORE!!
GASP! A little addition to the study–I’M FURIOUSLY PISSED OFF TOO!
Now, off to have some wine and attempt to relax.

By: Rose

Rose — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:47:37 +0000

No kidding. I figure the Mormons are actually hoping to up the GLBT suicide rate.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:17:45 +0000

I feel that this is just common sensem, that just the uncertainty of wondering if there will permitted any mechanism at all specifically applicable to same-sex couples that give them their relationships the type of recognition under a particular state’s laws necessary to protect them in time of medical and other problems in life that unfortunately may need to enterface with the legal system of whatever state these various same-sex couple happen to reside in, excuse the rambling jnature of this paragraph. Just common sense that this kind of uncertainty can sufficient anxiety-producing and stressful to be harmful to a couple’s mental well-being.

another reason to not do an “oh well” and just pass off these amendments. There are harmful in more than way as well as being a terrible injustice.

All the more reason to not rest until all the amendments and propositions damaging to the health and well-being of gay couples are repealed.

ONe good news is that GOP US Senator from Alaska, the arrogant, corrupt and powerful and (maybe antigay) Ted Stevens has lost his seat to a Democrat (his last name is Begich, forgot his first name as I am still learning his name) from his state where for years he was known as “Uncle Ted”.

Only 2 more Democrats are needed to get 60 Democrats to make a filibuster-proof number of Democrat occupied Congressional seats.

Let’s hope that these other 2 currently undecided races come up Democrat in the end.