Don and Little Hawk....

Some people, it would seem, do not sleep easy in their bed if someone is miles away from then sleeping who just happens to be gay! ;-)

Smedley wrote: "The question of why so many gay men choose to put health concerns as a lower priority is the most difficult one to resolve". It is indeed BUT it's not just gay men is it? Straight men have a tendency to neglect their health too. Trying to get a man to go to the Doctor can be a labour of love when he is ill! Men are dying. literally, because they will not have 'normal' health checks, and anything to do with their genitals... forget it! So I actually think that is a male thing and not a gay male thing alone. Men do neglect themselves in my experience.

Each to their own lives taking what chances they take or not. It matters not a jot what sexuality someone is to me. I am always far more interested at what is between a persons ears, and in their hearts, than what is between their legs. Affording everyone the same initial respect - whereby only they themselves can change the meter up or down - generally works. What people do in their own time has nothing to do with me as long as they are not hurting me in its doing. Obviously, some things affect us all in a way that would mean us having to take notice if someone were hurting someone else but, generally, live and let live seems a reasonably good starting point with any encounter.

I still think education is a major leveller for things to do with hate, ignorances, homophobia, etc. Not everyone will stop the hate but many, once aware of true facts, do become more tolerant initially and then actually accepting. Even within the gay communities, and many other minority groups, there is misunderstanding, distrust and confusion.

We can live in hope for greater understanding and knowledge to bring about changed environments where everyone can have respect for each other.

I am a dreamer....

mp