Gay News & Travel Blog :: GlobalGayz.com

El Salvador and Survival: Gay Life Among the Chaos

2010-02-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comSan Salvador, February 9, 2010I am often amused and irked at how the gay community in any one country is portrayed both in the majority media and in the gay media as well.El Salvador is another one of those ‘throw-away’ countries in Central America that is mostly ignored unless there is controversy happening such as a civil war, death squads disappearing priests or a

Considering the Mayan Ruins in Honduras (and Human Hubris)

2010-02-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comCopan Ruines, HondurasFebruary 7, 2010After 1200 years, the Mayan stones tell a mute story of empire and human dominance. Teased out piece by piece by modern hands from the jungle’s clawed roots, from a millennium of rain and floods, baking sun and vegan onslaught, the exposed stones tell stories of kaleidoscopic religion, political intrigue and military

Gay Nicaragua and Latino Sexuality

2010-02-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comManagua, NicaraguaFebruary 1, 2010As expected, the hub of LGBT activity is found in big cities so it was no surprise to find it in Managua the capital of Nicaragua. What was a surprise was finding so many LGBT organizations and finding them collected in one place. Thanks to Marvin Mayorga of IDSDH (Sexual Diversity Initiative for Human Rights), the leading activist

Letter from Gay Honduras

2010-02-06T05:46:00.000-08:00

February 5, 2010Richard Ammon, GlobalGayzHondurasIt’s February 5 and the temperature is 100 degrees (F) in the village of Copan Ruines, Honduras where ancient Mayan ruins have baked under the hot sun for over 1500 years.Honduras is one of those ‘throw-away countries that hardly registers on any international scale of influence, enterprise or tourism.But once inside the country, it tends to seduce

Stop Uganda’s “Kill The Gays” Bill Author From Entering The U.S.

2010-01-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comJanuary 17, 2010I'm posting this message sent from an activist friend in Uganda. It is incredibly beyond words that this vile man should weasel his way to Washington for a 'prayer breakfast' with the President. I am amazed at the gall this bizarre bigot to think he can sit at the same table as Barack Obama--not that Obama is perfect but at least he has a moral

Being Gay is Political--Like It or Not

2010-01-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon. GlobalGayz.comJanuary 11, 2010Someone recently reviewed my website, GlobalGayz.com, and thought it was not focused well. Was it a gay site? A travel site? A human rights advocacy site? A political site? A news reports site?My reply was short: being openly gay at the turn of the 21st is a political act that invokes human rights activity and generates much news around the world.I

Curing Homosexuality—with Murder

2010-01-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayzLaguna Beach, California January 5, 2010How many ways can you kill a person for being gay?We like to use the word ‘barbarian’ these days to describe ancient war tactics, medieval religious torture and primitive ‘medical’ practices.But the truth is barbaric practices are in current vogue in certain countries around the world. About 80 countries criminalize homosexual

New Year, Full Moon

2010-01-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comLaguna Beach, California, January 1, 20105 AM before sunrise, Southern CaliforniaA brilliant white glowing moon hangs, seemingly weightless, on the edge of deep space, over the Pacific Ocean, its luminescence reflected in the rippling water. The dark gray-blue sky is cloudless. The moon is completely full round. The air is still. There is silence. The reflection is a

Sex! A Prescription for Aging

2009-12-30T20:25:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comLaguna Beach, December 31, 2009My partner and I had sex the other night.No, this is not an expose or verbal porn. I offer these words as a reflection on at least three of life’s major happenings: aging, sex and love, i.e.long term relationships—all rolled into one.I am almost 70. My partner is almost 59. We have been together for more than 20 years. Our sex was

Author of Ugandan Gay Death Bill Fears For His Life

2009-12-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comLaguna Beach, CaliforniaDecember 30, 2009Another (bizarre and specious) public announcement comes from the author of the Ugandan gay death bill, David Bahati. In this outcry, instead of targeting gay people, he claims he is a target of hateful intentions and fears for his life. See this report from the San Francisco Examiner.How awful!Imagine this 'innocent' man being

Being Straight and Not Married; Being Gay and Not Married

2009-12-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comDecember 26, 2009I visited my 94 year-old stepfather over Christmas. He lives with his 93 year-old girlfriend. He’s my ‘step’ because he married my mother when they were both 75; they had good years before she died of lung caner—she smoked when she was a young parent; it was the fashion then. He took loving care of her and she died at their home.Fourteen years later

Uganda: Stealing the Spotlight From President Museveni

2009-12-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

Neophyte Legislator Proposes Deadly Laws Against Gays: Unleashes International ProtestRichard Ammon, GlobalGayzLaguna Beach, CAYoweri Museveni has been president of Uganda for 24 years in a country that had suffered decades of government corruption, mismanagement, bloody guerilla activity and civil war, all preceded by the the horrors of the Idi Amin tyranny in the seventies. His rise to power

Gay Rights Activist Murdered in Honduras

2009-12-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comDecember 17, 2009Once again we are humbled and infuriated that yet another courageous gay activist has been gunned down for his human rights work. In a previous blog we considered the irrational persecution and killing of LGBT (gay) people across the world and how human fear and hatred make us inhumane.The illegal coup in Honduras has taken many lives in the

Historic Gay Book Signing at Beirut Book Fair

2009-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comLaguna Beach, CA December 16, 2009'Gay Travels in the Muslim World' editor Michael Luongo will be signing the new Arabic translation of his book at the Beirut Book Fair in BIEL on Tuesday, December 22, at 6pm, at the Arab Diffusion (Al Intishar al Arabi) Publisher's stand, number G18.This is the first time a gay American book has ever been translated into Arabic and

Human Myths That Make Us Inhumane

2009-12-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comNew York CityI am continually saddened by how far and deep irrational thought (myth) can infuse a society, especially regarding a political or religious issue.Gay marriage is one issue that arouses irrational political and religious discomfort. It’s an issue that burns because it involves or implies human sexual behavior, which is an irrational force that urges many

Another Gay Ambassador Appointed

2009-12-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comLaguna Beach CaliforniaNow for some good news among the waves of homophobia swirling around these days, especially from Africa.The new USA ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa was sworn in the other day. Not a major political jolt or international flap but a decidedly moving event considering that the new ambassador, David Heubner, is openly gay. He was given the oath

Condemn the Ugandan Gay-Killer Legislation

2009-12-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayz.comLaguna Beach CaliforniaPopulist pastor Rick Warren, the Jesus-loving pastor in California who proclaims Christian values as his life guides, has again elbowed his way to notoriety by his refusal to condemn the gay-killer legislation being considered in Uganda. (Read bill here)He is hiding behind the charade of “not commenting on the political process of other nations

World AIDS Day Sundown

2009-12-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon, GlobalGayzLaguna Beach, CAThe sun went down across the horizon this evening on this commemorative day for people lost to AIDS. A small candlelit gathering on the beach in Laguna (California) named friends, family and lovers who now live only in the memories of those who spoke. The prayers offered were a slight balm to survivors; the eternal waves lapping on the sand, a full moon

Farewell to Gay Sydney--For Now

2009-11-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

Sydney, AustraliaRichard Ammon, GlobalGayzNovember 21, 2009Saying good-by to this remarkably intelligent city is tinged with sadness for me. For a gay person to live or visit, it doesn't get much better than here.The LGBT community is vitally alive in virtually every fabric of daily life, from the highest reaches of government (gay deputy mayor) to the frenetic dance clubs on Oxford Street to the

Gay Life Way Down Under - Tasmania

2009-11-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon - GlobalGayz.comHobart, Tasmania, November 9, 2009Gay life is everywhere, as we know, even here in Tasmania.Some people think of this place as some remote Africa country hardly worth mentioning. But they couldn't be more wrong. Tasmania is Australia's southernmost state, off the south coast of the continent and separated by treacherous seas. But flying in from Sydney is a smooth

Love Among the Ruins: USA, an Indian Prince, Love & HIV

2009-11-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

Richard Ammon - GlobalGayz.comNovember 4, 2009Sydney, AustraliaWhile America was limping from the loss of two important marriage-rights elections (New Jersey and Maine), across the globe in India there was a cause for celebration of sorts.Prince Manvendra Gohil, the famous ‘gay Prince’ from Rajpipla state in the western Gujarat area of India announced last night to an audience in Sydney that he

New Hate Crimes Bill: New Era of Civil Rights Recognition for LGBT Americans (?)

2009-10-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

From: Examiner.com October 31, 2009Sonoma County (California) Civil Rights ExaminerBy Megan CofeyThe expanded federal Hate Crime Prevention Act, named for 1998 victims Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. and signed into law by President Obama on October 28, may end up being much more significant than its scope would suggest.Although the Department of Justice avers that hate crime statutes deter

How Did These Homophobes Lose Their Humaneness?

2009-10-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

(Humaneness: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals)Well, isn't this a sweet headline from a government official:Ugandan Ethics Minister James Nsaba Buturo spoke with journalists today. While acknowledging the great numbers of “foreigners” who express grave concern over the possibility of such a [proposed anti-gay] bill becoming law, he made it clear that he is

A Princely Gay Man - Manvendra Singh Gohil of India Comes Out

2009-10-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

Laguna Beach, CA - October 29, 2009Richard Ammon - GlobalGayz.comNo question that rank carries privilege and privilege carries fame. This time it belongs to an Indian prince who came out as gay in 2005 and shocked his family and fascinated the Indian public.Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of the Rajpipla region in the state of Gujarat, the westernmost state in India (Mahatma Gandhi was also born in

For Gays and Lesbians Apartheid is Alive and Well

2009-10-27T22:23:00.000-07:00