Warning! You are approaching the "whine zone".

Enter at your own risk!

Is There Anything More Miserable Than a Summer Cold?

By: Karen J. Allen
Co-Publisher, On the Gay Horizon  

Is there anything more miserable than a summer cold?

Yes, as a matter of fact, there is --- a summer cold and living alone!

Being all sniffly and achy is bad enough but there used to be the corresponding plus side of getting TLC.

Now....nothing.

No one to bring me a cold soda or unearth my favorite movie. No one to run to the store for NyQuil and popsicles. No gentle hand on my forehead checking my temperature while I'm napping. 

The cats won't make me homemade chicken soup. They don't care if the Kleenex is not the soft kind or that a clean pillow case sure would feel nice. They're not even willing to give a little on how early they expect their breakfast.

Yep, living alone takes all the fun out of being sick. In fact, it pretty much sucks!

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I know, you're thinking that was nothing more than self-indulgence.  No redeeming qualities whatsoever. You're right. When I'm sick, I not only want to complain, but I also want someone to pay attention.

I considered expanding it into a piece about the high percentage of the gay community who do end up living alone and how that affects quality of life. We'll do that in the near future. But not today --- clean pillow case or not, I'm heading for a nap.

We would be interested in your thoughts on aging alone. What have you experienced? What are your concerns? Write to us at admin@onthegayhorizon.com .

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Is it Progress or Perception?

I was reading The Gay Generation Gap this week in New York Magazine. It talked about the widening gap between older gay men and the youngsters coming of age today. One part especially caught my attention:

"To some extent, a generation gap in any subgroup with a history of struggle is good news, because it's a sign of arrival ... today, with the tide of history and public opinion finally (albeit fitfully) moving our way, we can afford to step back and exercise the same disrespect for our elders (or our juniors) as heterosexuals do. That's progress, of a kind."

The article went on to describe how younger gay men believe that many gay organizations are stuck in the past and are unable or unwilling to see anything but struggle and oppression. You can imagine the response from our generation.  One of my favorites...."Don't be so quick to dissolve the organizations that made it possible for you to be so naïve" recently appeared on a Washington Post message board.

Amazing, huh? Change seems to be happening at light speed! Of course, we know what it has taken to build this momentum. If you haven't lived it, maybe it's simply not possible to understand what it's like to feel like equality and basic freedom is beyond your reach. Or appreciate what others have risked and sacrificed. 

The Iranians get it. So far, I haven't been able to read about what is happening in Iran without tears forming. The image of Neda Soltani. The response when someone learns that he is talking to an American, "Please give our regards to freedom."  The whispered words that they risk all for "tomorrow's children".

I hope that future generations of Iranians will honor what is being done for them today. But, more than that, I wish for them the luxury to display the same level of naïveté as today's gay youth.

President Obama recently quoted Martin Luther King, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."  I believe that's true. But I also believe that we do not have the same luxury as those at the end of that arc. Our work is far from over. It's up to our generation to apply the pressure that keeps the universe bending in the right direction.

If you doubt that, I have a question for you. Are there still states in the United States where it is legal to fire someone just because they are gay?

Yes, there are. In fact, it is perfectly legal in 30 states for an employer to fire us simply because of who we are.  It's not often that we're not at the bottom of the pile but there are actually 38 states where that sort of discrimination is legal when it comes to transgendered.

We are nowhere near the end of the rainbow. But we can make a significant push in that direction by taking advantage of our very best shot so far to push a fully inclusive employment non-discrimination bill through Congress and get it to the President's desk.

Join with the Task Force to support ENDA. Click here and tell Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act!

And as for our seemingly unappreciative GLBT youngsters, I have only one thing to say...."you're welcome".

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Brew Anti-Oxidants While You Sleep

Fit in a Year - Week 21

By: Ann-Marie Giglio
Co-Publisher, On the Gay Horizon  

Everyone's heard by now that we need to add anti-oxidants to our diets.  Especially since we've all been exercising and moving more!
 
Here's a very easy, very summery way to do this.
Brew ice tea.
Wait--I know--you haven't time.  But what if I told you it's possible to do this without boiling the water, waiting for it to cool, and then diluting it with ice?

Try this:  before you go to bed tonight, take a glass pitcher, fill it with about 1 1/2 - 2 quarts of filtered, room temperature water.  Add about 2 tablespoons of loose tea or a few tea bags which add up to approximately 2 tablespoons.  Stir.  Put it into the refrigerator.  Go to bed.

In the morning, remove the pitcher, strain, and enjoy!  I'm really lazy, so I only strain it into the glass as I use it, rather than strain the entire pitcher every morning.  So far, no harm done.

This works with virtually any tea or infusion.  This week, I've made jasmine, green, ceylon, mint, and a ceylon/mint blend.  The tea is smooth and refreshing, very different from the hot brewed flavor.

Try it!  And let me know how you like it.