Nature at It's Best

How cute is this picture of two love birds.. lol.

Of course the radicals who can't deal with the fact that homosexuality is a natural behaviour, can't deal with the fact that two male Penguins are bond together. Here is nature at her best showing that homosexuality is as natural and common in all species. It's not about nurture or not having enough faith in religion. So if anyone ever tells you that you can change, its not nature. Get them to take a look at these two cuties story.

Read Below:

Courtesy of Animal Tracks.

The feathered friends came to the zoo from Toledo, Ohio, and quickly formed a close bond. They pair off from their group of 12 every night, and even display signs of mating rituals. They make mating calls to each other, groom each other, defend each other's territory and basically hang out together. A lot.
“They seem to be in a loving relationship of some sort,’’ Joe Torzsok, chairman of the Toronto zoo board, told the Toronto Star.

Mark Blinch / Reuters

Male penguins Pedro (bottom) and Buddy have displayed what zookeepers regard as mating behaviors, including mating calls.

Mind you, Central Park and Toronto are not the only places that same-sex pairing between penguins has been observed; zookeepers in Japan and Germany have also reported such behaviors, including male couples that build nests together and use stones as substitute “eggs.” And penguins are far from the only creatures in which homosexual and bisexual behavior have been observed – there are cases among elephants, giraffes, dolphins, black swans, certain monkeys and, lest we forget, human beings.
But soon Buddy will have to get along without his best buddy. Duty calls: African penguins are endangered, and 10-year-old Pedro and 20-year-old Buddy happen to be carrying some very nice genes under those tuxedos they wear.

Good Hygiene- No Excuse

There is no worst turn off then meeting a guy with bad hygiene. Bad body odour, flaky skin, bad breath, the list goes on. Your first impression may be the only chance you have, so don't blow it. Its easy to maintain good hygiene and it should be a no brainer to want to do.

Courtesy of  Elev8

Here are 5 items that no man should be without.


1-Body Wash for Your Skin Type-Instead of relying on your old standby, choose a skin cleanser based on your skin. First, narrow down whether your go-to bar of soap or liquid cleanser is right for your skin type:

2-Floss Good oral hygiene will not only give you a healthy smile and fresh breath; it may reduce your chances of heart disease. Surprised? Studies have found that people who have periodontal disease — gingivitis and periodontitis — have double the risk of a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of arteries. Flossing, in particular, will remove more than just stray poppy seeds; it also removes plaque that causes gum disease, inflammation and tooth decay.

3-Shaving Cream It may seem OK to substitute your face soap or body wash for shaving cream, but trust us: Shaving cream will make your skin happy. Shaving cream, gel or lotion creates a layer of protection between your skin and the razor blade. That protective layer reduces the drag of the blade, in turn reducing the irritation you have from shaving, such as shaving bumps and razor burn. Choose a thick gel or cream with hydrating ingredients, and let it sit on your skin for a few minutes to soften hairs before shaving.
8 Ways To Maintain Your Health

4-Antiperspirant or Deodorant Americans spend more than $1 billion every year on products to stop sweat and body odor [source: Grossman]. It’s big business and a big job — the body has about 2.6 million sweat glands, and a person can produce 1 to 3 liters of sweat in just an hour in a hot climate [source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram]. To combat odor, wetness or both, you’ll want to have an antiperspirant or deodorant (or a combination) in your arsenal. Antiperspirants work by temporarily plugging up your pores, making it impossible for the sweat to escape. Deodorants won’t stop your sweat. Instead, they mask body odor with fragrance and by reducing the number of odor-causing bacteria on our skin.

5-Moisturizer- Just as you’d consider your skin type when searching for the right body wash, you should consider your particular skin needs when buying a moisturizer. If you have normal skin, the world of moisturizers is wide open to you. If you don’t have normal skin, and many of us don’t, you’ll need to be a little pickier.

Thug!

Thug, Thug, Thug, Thug. I can't count how many times when I've met or talk to someone new, who happens to be attracted to black men almost exclusively, are just looking for a Thug. Where is my due rag, my bling around my neck, my pants down to my ankles. Oh yeah, I better not forget I need to be on the down low. Bring my ghettoness on!

Why all of a sudden that every black gay guy needs to reflect a imagine of being a Thug for them to be considered black enough in the gay community? Coming out in downtown Toronto many years ago, I struggle to find imagines of gay men of dark complexion in the mainstream gay publications that reflected them as being hot. Now I find several dark skin men in the mainstream publications. But almost 99% of them reflect that Thug imaginary.

I can definitely understand the bad boy appeal. Regardless of what ethnic background, we all have the fantasy of the guy that comes from the wrong side of the fence. On the same note, we also see that boy next door as a imagine that is also considered hot, but for some reason not for black men.

Gay men love to have their pornographic fantasies become reality by finding that guy the has the body and the attitude that we see on porn. Unfortunately the only imaginary that you really see of black men in porn is that of the ‘Thug’. It doesn’t matter if he is shy, aggressive, top or bottom. He will be that Thug, dress top to bottom.

Don’t get me wrong. I have no issues with anyone who loves their man being the ‘Thug’ or guys that present themselves in that way. It is hot in many ways. But there is a different reality of just being the ‘thug in bed’ versus being the ‘thug in life’. Black men are hot regardless if they’re the bad boy from the other side of the fence. The sweet boy living beside your house. The top or bottom, the preppy dressing conservative liberal type, whatever. Thug isn’t the only beauty or the only thing that reflects being black. Our skin does that on its own.
If you want Thug outside of the bedroom, then go for Thug. But don’t expect or think every black men are truly a Thug inside waiting for you to release.

Gay Argentine couple's wedding plans divide an entire continent

The Beruti register office in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires will never have witnessed a marriage like it. On Tuesday, Alex Freyre and José María Di Bello, who met three years ago at a conference on HIV, will make history and divide a continent as they become Latin America's first gay married couple.

The ceremony will be a tribute to their determination as well as their love for each other, after a bitter three-year campaign which has divided a city, outraged Argentina's powerful Roman Catholic church and overturned the constitution.

Freyre and Di Bello's forthcoming nuptials have been debated on television, in churches and on the street. Hostile posters can be found on billboards across the city. But, in Di Bello's words, nothing can now prevent him and his partner becoming "husband and husband".

Not surprisingly, the marriage is already being hailed by equality activists as a significant triumph against the odds in a traditionally macho society. Argentina – and Latin America in general – is not known for a tolerance of sexual diversity, and violence against gays is an everyday occurrence.

"This marriage is bigger than José María and I," Freyre told the Observer. "It is a victory for all who face prejudice and discrimination across Latin America and the Caribbean. It is proof that at last the grip of the Catholic church is slipping across Latin America, the system that has kept gay communities silent and fearful is crumbling. What is happening on Tuesday is a strike against those attitudes that have repressed sexual rights across this continent for too long."

To read more please click here: The Guardian

Want A Boyfriend-Advice

Gay Muslims, Victims of 'A Jihad for Love'

Interesting Article By Philip Kennicott. Please read!

Happy Ramadan to my Muslim Friends

The relationship of Ferda and Kiymet is one of the few light moments in "A Jihad for Love," Parvez Sharma's documentary about homosexuality in the Muslim world. The two Turkish women laugh and touch in public, and in a poignant scene, Kiymet meets Ferda's 80-year-old mother. The introduction goes well, and the three women sit together and joke about life and love.

This kind of normality is absent in the lives of Sharma's other characters, most of whom have had to make wrenching choices between pursuing love and remaining within the embrace of traditional societies. Payam, a gay man who fled persecution in Iran, calls his mother from a phone booth in Turkey to update her on his hope of political asylum in Canada. He can hear her weeping -- which makes him break down.

"She said she was cutting onions but I could tell she was crying," he tells his friends, who try to comfort him.

Payam shows his face in the film, which was produced by Sandi Simcha DuBowski, the director of "Trembling Before G-d," a 2001 documentary that focused on homosexuality among Orthodox Jews. Amir, another young man who fled Iran, keeps his face hidden, but we do see his lacerated back, covered in red stripes after he was lashed for being gay.

To read more click here: Washington Post

Valentine's Day

It's that time of year again when you express your heart to that special person in your life. Roses, chocolates, movies, dinner or just a night cap :-) For some Valentine's Day is great and for others they just hate it or don't really care. So the question is, 'Is Valentine's Day overrated?' Shouldn't a couple be expressing their affection for one another everyday and not specifically on this day? Is it a day that is only set for people in a relationship?

Here are my thoughts. For thoses in a relationship, if this is the day that you decide to do something extra special beyond what you do for your partner already, great! But remember it's not about how expensive the gift was, but the opportunity to spend some good quality time with each other. For those who are single. Don't worry. If you feel left out, remember that Valentine's Day is about expressing your warmth to the people you care about and spending time with them, which doesn't mean that they have to be your boyfriend/girlfriend. Take the time to do something nice with friend.
Well for a lot of people Valentine's Day can be very stressful to do something romantic for their partner. So courtesy of www.lovingyou.com here is a basic checklist to help ensure that your day goes well and is stress free.

Valentine's day checklist

Make sure this Valentine's Day goes off without a single hitch! Below is a general checklist of things you should consider when planning your Valentine's Day! Good luck, and have a most romantic holiday with your sweetheart!

printable checklist: fancy or quick

1. Your Schedules
Before you can decide on anything, you need to find out what both of your schedules are. Do one or both of you have to work? Find out what hours. Does your date have something else planned during any part of the day? Make sure to find out everything, then tell your date AS SOON AS POSSIBLE what time to reserve for your interlude.

2. Consider Your Date's Interests
Is your date a "flowers and romance, dance all night" type, or a "stay at home in front of the fire" type of person? This is important in determining what you are planning to do. If you're not sure, ask your date what they like.

3. Plan Your Date
By now you should know what timeframe you have to work with and what your partner's interests are. With this information it should be much easier deciding what to do. While you're planning, make sure to check if reservations are needed, any tipping requirements, transportation you might need, any possible dress code, timeframe of any events, and if there are any restrictions on any mood enhancers you might want to bring, like candles. Don't forget to let your date know about any information they need to know, like dress codes, etc.!

3. Select Mood Enhancers
With the date idea selected, it's time to plan your "over-the-top valentine romance!" For a list of great ideas, see our Mood Setters article. When planning these, check for any of the things mentioned above that are relevant.

4. Your Gift
The gift is almost as, if not more, important than the actual date. It doesn't need to be expensive, but it does need to show that you've put a lot of time and care into selecting it. If you're deciding to give a traditional favorite, like flowers or chocolates, try and do something unique with them. For example, have 12 single roses delivered seperately, or try one of the creative chocolate ideas found here.

5. Confirm Everything!!!
The night before, take some time and confirm any reservations or plans you have that involve a third party. This not only helps ease your nerves a bit, but also reminds the other person of their possible duty.

6. Relax And Enjoy!
Pick up your date and enjoy each other's romantic company! Relax, because you've taken all the steps to plan the perfect Valentine's Day date!!

Gay Relationships

I just read a very interesting article addressing the issue of whether a gay relationship is different than a hetrosexual relationship. The premise was based on the fact that hetrosexual relationships seem to last much longer. The article is written by a guy who recently came out of a 7 years relationship. He talks about the fact that gay men have a more difficult time maintaining a long lasting relationship for various reason. Here is a clip of the article from TIME magazine. Enjoy.

Are Gay Relationships Different:

Michael and I had been together 7 1⁄2 years when I moved out in late 2006. We met at a bar just after Christmas 1998; I had seen Shakespeare in Love with a couple of friends, and I was feeling amorous, looking for Joseph Fiennes. Michael hit on one of my friends first, but the two didn't click, so Michael settled for me.

That was one of our most reliable stories to tell friends over dinner. It never ceased to get the table laughing, Michael and me most of all, because it was preposterous to think we wouldn't have ended up together. We were so happy, our love unshakable.

I went home with Michael the night we met, and figuratively speaking, I didn't leave again for those 7 1⁄2 years. The breakup sucked, the more so because it was no one's fault. Our relationship had begun to suffer the inanition of many marriages at seven years. (The seven-year itch isn't a myth; the U.S. Census Bureau says the median duration of first marriages that end in divorce is 7.9 years.) Michael and I loved each other, but slowly--almost imperceptibly at first--we began to realize we were no longer in love. We were intimate but no longer passionate; we had cats but no kids.

Things drifted for a while. There was some icky couples counseling ("Try a blindfold") and therapeutic spending on vacations, clothes, furniture. We were lost. The night Michael wouldn't stay up to watch The Office finale with me, I knew I had to move out. Yes, he was tired, but if he couldn't give me the length of a sitcom--Jim and Pam are going to kiss!--then we were really done.

For the full article click here://http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1704660-1,00.html

Happy New Years: It' Easy, It's Hard

It's Easy to lie
It's Easy to cheat
It's Easy to betray
It's Easy to pretend

But

It's Hard to love
It's Hard to trust
It's Hard to be honest
It's Hard to respect those you love

It's Easy to find sex
It's Easy to find superficial relationships

But

It's Hard to find integrity
It's Hard to find true commitment

One can say that they love and care for you, but it doesn't mean they respect you!!
One can say that they know what they want, but truly have no clue!

The New Year should be about making the Hard easy and the Easy hard. It should be about ensuring that the relationships that you have are about integrity, true commitment, honest, trust, respect and love. I know I will be!!

Happy New Years

Breaking The Cycle

Why is it that some of us seem to always get into bad relationships. Or are unable to break the one that we are in when you know it's unhealthy. How do you break the cycle that becomes like a poison to us.

I recently read an interest article on this topic called "Are you addicted to Bad Relationships" read below. What are your thoughts?

It is not difficult to break bad relationship habits. Once you decide to let go off your clingy nature, healing will automatically come. Once you aim to heal your past and maintain healthy relationships, you will automatically stay away from associating with toxic people. Always try to keep your relationships healthy. People in healthy relationships grow together and don't stunt each other's progress. Learn to respect your individuality and give and take space. Sometimes we have to associate with negative people, but if you have a healthy self-esteem and courage to stand up for yourself, you won't be affected by such people. Thus, the first step towards breaking bad relationship habits is having a strong conception of your own identity. Often, we allow people into our lives who treat us as we expect to be treated. So, if you feel contempt for yourself or think very little of yourself, you may pick partners or significant others who reflect this image back to you. Learn to recognise such patterns in your life and pluck them off. There will be anger, resentment, hurt and pain. But, you will be breaking your psychological dependency on other people. Recovering from relationship addiction is a process of acknowledging and then letting go of pain, and finding ways to build a happy life.

Read more on http://prudentpressagency.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2110

Two of the Greatest Talented Artist- Sing Classic Love Songs

Sometimes a song can be a great way to express a feeling or emotion that you have for someone but find yourself unable to communicate. Here are two wonder vocalists that can help do the job. Listen!!

Also Shirley Bassey- singing I(who) Have Nothing.. classic song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDUhkf3qYww

Domestic Abuse in Gay Relationships

Occurrence of abuse in same-sex relationships, especially a gay relationship, is well less known. But the amount of abuse that happens is no less than that of a women being abuse in a heterosexual relationship. A study conducted by two researchers from the University of Chicago concluded that 1 out 3 men in a gay relationship experience some form of abuse from their partner. This statistic is in par with the stats of female domestic abuse in a heterosexual relationship.Most men find it difficult to come forward therefore the incidents is underreported. This leads to services that may be less sensitive to same sex domestic abuse, more hostile to queer issues. Therefore leaving the individual with no place to turn too. It's very important that we report any abuse that we experience or know of to ensure that we help each other and build awareness of the issue.

Nature of Abuse:
Abuse in relationships is any behavior or pattern of behavior used to coerce, dominate or isolate the other partner. It is the use of any form of power that is imposed by one partner over the other to maintain control within the relationship.
Abuse includes but is not limited to:

Physical Abuse - hitting; choking; slapping; burning; shoving; using a weapon; physically restraining; intentional interference with basic needs (e.g. food, medicine, sleep)
Isolation: Restricting Freedom - controlling contacts with friends and family, access to information and participation in groups or organizations; locking up in a room / restricting mobility; monitoring telephone calls

Psychological & Emotional Abuse - constantly criticizing, ridiculing (self, family, friends, past); trying to humiliate or degrade; lying; undermining self-esteem; misleading someone about the norms and values of the gay/lesbian communities in order to control or exploit them
Stalking / Harassing Behavior - following; turning up at workplace or house; parking outside; repeated phone calls or mail to victim and/or family, friends, colleagues

Threats & Intimidation - threatening to harm partner, self or others (children, family, friends, pets); threatening to make reports to authorities that jeopardize child custody, immigration or legal status; threatening to disclose HIV status, threatening to reveal sexual orientation to family, friends, neighbors, and/or employers

Economic Abuse - controlling or stealing money; fostering dependency; making financial decisions without asking or telling partner

Sexual Abuse/Harassment - forcing sex or specific acts, pressuring into unwanted sexual behavior, criticizing performance

Property Destruction - destroying mementos, breaking furniture or windows, throwing or smashing objects, trashing clothes or other possessions

Break Up Lessons

No relationship starts or ends without some lesson learnt. Break ups can be dreadful and starting something new with someone can be scary. A person can experience many waves of emotions that can make the occurrence more difficult to handle, whether it's the person doing the break-up or if it's the person receiving the bad news. Statistics Canada indicates that men are more likely to go into depression following a relationship break-up or martial breakdown, than our counterparts. ... Unfortunately I don't no what the specific statistics are for homosexual relationships.


Here are some Do's and Don't that most people learn through this period.


*Don't hook up with someone before you break up, if you want to slavish some aspect of your relations with the hope of a friendship. The discovery of such an act will definitely drown does hopes.


*Muster up the courage. Once you have decided that the relationship is over its best to act promptly and end it. If you're believe that you need to stay due to some unfortunate situation that is happening in your partner's life, unless its life threaten it may be better to end it now as suppose to prolonging what will eventually happen. It’s not fair to yourself or even fair to your partner. Why be unhappy in a relationship that you no longer care for. It will only make the end more difficult for both.


*Pick your words carefully. First, always end it in person and not via SMS. Our society has become so impersonal with the use of technology, using it to avoid difficult situations. Not only is communicating the end to a relationship through SMS done in bad crowdedly taste, most people aren't SMS communication savvy. The use of bold words, etc can come off as being very cold and mean, were that may not be the intention. The general public lacks the understanding of how to properly communicate a message through this median keeping in mind that someone on the other end will be interpreting what was written. In a break-up situation there are heighten emotions and logical judgments can be impaired to the emotions felt from the heart. Be honest without being cruel, get to the point and ensure to be sensitive. This will help to provide closure.


*Nothing to Fear. The end of one relationship, regardless of the length of time with the person isn't the end of the world. Stay confident and positive. Interact with friends and family and getting back to your normal activities will help you get over the break-up.


Lastly, *keep your dignity. Forget about bad mouthing the person, try not to hold any grudges and at the end of the day you will be happier. Life goes on.

Cheating Dogs

Is there such things as a monogamous gay relationship? Can both individuals in the relationship actually not cheat? With the easy access to a variety of personal site, the ability to have many email addresses and the basic fact that many men out there don't have a problem fucking around, can a monogamous relationship actually exist?
Most men are like animals in heat. And if it's easy to get, some will go for it. Especially if they think that they can get away with it. Cheating Dogs are what they are called. Shame on Them..

So in a culture that is so sexually charged how do you maintain a monogamous relationship? Or is this term monogamous relationship more gear towards a more traditional straight hetrosexual concept?

I have to admit that I know more relationships were there is one or both individuals fooling around for a variety of reasons, than I know in a monogamous relationship. But how can anyone truly thing that they can get away from being caught, especially since the community is so small when it comes to gossip, rumours, etc. Sooner or later you will be found out. In most cases your partner/BF probably already knows and is playing ignorant to the fact.

Sex is easy to find. The allure of having an hot no strings encounter for alot of guys is a major turn on. Obtaining someone who you can trust, respect and who actually cares about you is harder. Be honest. Its better to hear it from you than your partner hearing it from a stranger on the street or some friend/acquintance. Try your best to keep him!

What May Seem Impossible Maybe Possible

Do you believe in destiny? Do believe that it's possible to reconnect with someone that you met briefly several years ago? Do you believe that by some weird/strange chance that if you are met to meet someone it will happen?

In movies or books it isn't uncommon to hear of a storyline of a character meeting someone by chance and then years later meeting that same person again. But in reality this would only seem like a fairytale or a storyline. But the unbelievable tale has seem to come true in real life. It would appear that I have met my boyfriend approximately 7 years ago by chance looking for directions.

The conversation that we had lasted about 15 minutes with no expectation that we would ever meet again. It was only on our trip in Italy going through the same place in Bologna that we realized we had met many years ago. For me this was an exciting occurance. For many years I wonderded what ever happen to that guy I briefly talked too. Even though the conversation was brief, something about it made me remember some aspect of this person.

Life can be strange. Sometimes you may thing that something could be completely impossible to ever happen actually does. Hopefully it's a good thing.

Hard to find Love for Poor Average Joe

How many times have you spoken to someone single and asked them the question, ‘what are you looking for in a person?' Getting the same general response of... “I want someone equal to me or better off. I don't want to maintain them and/or not be able to do things". "I want someone who has a good professional job making good money. No blue collar worker". “I want someone who is masculine, straight acting." "I want someone who works out regularly and is in great shape." "I want someone who is well traveled because I need someone who is culture". "I want someone who is an intellectual". “I want someone who is good looking, basically a model and dresses well." “I want someone who owns a home, has a car... etc. etc”. Then you follow up with your proceeding question, “So what type of personality are you looking for?" And you get the instant blank stare with the response of " Hum... well, I guess, awh... let's see...”

Poor average Joe who has an entry level job. Poor average Joe who isn't tall and a supermodel. Poor average Joe who may not be the most fashion forward looking guy. Poor average Joe for being AVERAGE.

For some reason a lot of guys have such vain requirements for their possible love interest. Don't get me wrong. Looking for those attributes isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It's unfortunate that for most this is the most essential aspects that they are looking for. The problem is that the majority of people don't have all of these attributes. The guy with the great job in which he is making lots of money, probably works between 12 to 16 hours a days, stuck to his blackberry, when not in the office. Does work on the weekend, very career focus and doesn't have time for a relationship or even going to the gym regularly to focus on obtaining that perfect body.

The person with the perfect body, great style and is considered very good looking, probably spends more time at the gym and less time focusing on that high power position that will earn the income that you are looking for.

The intellectual may be cultured and well traveled, but a geek/nerd or very awkward, or as some may put it, eccentric, with no fashion sense.

What is straight acting anyways?? Are you looking for a heterosexual or a homo/bisexual? This term is so ridiculous.

Most people you find are average. Unfortunately a good majority of them are asking for superman as their possible mate. But never seem to figure out why they are still single. This is because they’re POOR AVERAGE JOE.

A Reason, Season Or Liftime- Many Types of Relationships

It's true that you will have several types of relationships throughout your life. Whether it be an aquinctance, a strong friendship or Love. But all encounters tend have some reason.

Thanks for sharing.. Nelson

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with
guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire
fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come
to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real. But only for a sea son.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being a part of my life,
whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Gay Marriage Vote

It's easy to forget that many of our fellow brothers and sisters across the world don't have the same luxury as those living in Canada with respect to marriage and overall equal rights. Same-sex marriage was legalized across Canada by the Civil Marriage Act on July 20th 2005. It had been already legal in eight out of ten provinces and one of three territories.

USA Catholic Bishops comment on Gay Marriage
courtesy of http://www.edgeboston.com/

Three Massachusetts Bishops and a Cardinal have weighed in with state lawmakers regarding tomorrow’s expected vote on whether to allow a ballot initiative to go forward that could strip marriage rights from select residents of the Commonwealth.

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley and Bishops George W. Coleman, Timothy A, McDonnell, and Robert J. McManus sent a letter Tuesday to state lawmakers, urging them to vote in favor of the ballot initiative during tomorrow’s constitutional convention, according to a story in today’s Boston Globe.

Tomorrow’s anticipated vote would be the second of two consecutive votes needed to put the initiative, a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts constitution to limit marriage specifically to heterosexual couples, on the ballot in 2008.

In their letter, Cardinal O’Malley and the bishops profess a concern for the rights of children who would be reared in home headed by parents of the same gender, and warn against "redefining marriage in a way that is indifferent to the absence of mother or father."

The Globe article did not specify whether the letter from Cardinal O’Malley and the bishops addressed the issue of fatherless families headed by single heterosexual mothers or families in which the mother is absent and a single heterosexual father is rearing children alone.

Other excerpts from the letter published by the Globe included the often-repeated claim that "Marriage is a fundamental social institution," and a declaration that "[Marriage’s] definition and meaning are critical concerns for all in society."

"Because it involves issues of utmost social importance, extending far beyond questions strictly legal, the marriage debate should not be reserved only to lawyers and lawmakers," the letter said, continuing with, "Every citizen has a stake in the outcome, because every citizen has a stake in the well-being of the family." The Globe article did not specify whether any justification other than a purported concern for children was provided in the letter for special legal exclusions designed to lock gay and lesbian families out of fully equal legal recognition despite "every citizen [having] a stake" in the issue of their family’s "well being."

Reputable studies suggest that children reared by same-sex parents are as healthy and well-adjusted as children raised by mixed-gender parents.

Current Massachusetts law recognizes marriage between couples of the same gender. It also recognizes members of the GLBT community as citizens of the Commonwealth.

Cardinal O’Malley and the bishops had sent letters of this sort prior to other constitutional conventions, according to the Globe story.

Try Again

All relationships go through problems. Some of the best things to do are stop the blame, criticism or the feeling of being ashamed about anything and instead ask for what you want. Be clear, specific, but in the best positive way. Always show your appreciation for your partner and don't give up if it truly means something to you.

Language barriers are one of the comment causes to many tensions in a relationship. Being able to communicate clearly with each other is essential in making a relationship work and last. If the mother tongue for a couple differs, this doesn't mean that there is no hope for a long last relationship.Some way to help reducing such issues due to language could be teaching your partner some of the basic words. Your partner could take a course in the language. But most importantly be patient with each other.

When to Leave

When is it time to say it’s over in a relationship? And how do you say it?

Well saying goodbye generally doesn't come easy when there is true respect for one another. How to say it is even more difficult. Time to end it will greatly depend on what is going on in the relationship and how you are feeling. A sign may be when the relationship is no longer mutually enjoyable and if it feels cold, scary or completely not what you want. Meeting someone for the first time and getting to know them is a wonderful but sometimes disappointing adventure. Many aspects of the person's personality may not be so appealing once you know them better. This doesn't mean you respect them less as a person, or perhaps that could be the case. Regardless if you have decided that the relationship is no longer worth fighting for, then you need to end it.

How to say it? Well again depending on what is happening in the relationship, this can be very easy or one of the most difficult things you have to do. There are no perfect ways to approach the issue. But you must. Being afraid and hoping that the other person will say something will most likely make things worst at the end. The longer you drag things on the worst it can be for all. When future plans get made the more difficult it will become and more hurtful.

What not to expect. Don't expect a positive response and new blossoming friendship. Perhaps the best thing to expect is the worst and hope for the best.