A few years ago, in an attempt to demonstrate to my brother-in-law how stupid it was to call shitty things "gay" (slash "ghey"), I began referring to shitty things as "Christian". Can't make it to drinks tonight? Christian. Got a parking ticket? Christian. Someone stole your iPod? That's the Christianest thing that's ever happened to you!
Turned out to be fairly effective. So I appreciate Tom Ackerman's decision to make it clear to people that he no longer recognises marriages. If gay couples have to be called longtime companions or life partners or whatever, then so can everyone else.
Just replace the words husband, wife, spouse, or fiancé with boyfriend, girlfriend, special friend, or longtime companion. There is a reason we needed stronger words for more serious relationships. We know it; now they can see it.
Sexologist Mariela Castro Espín, director of...
Now, hold on a goddam second. There's a sexology? Why wasn't I informed?
Mr Stick?! I thought you existed only in the realm that is my nightmare realm.
Thank you, Mr Stick! You are helpful in real life, instead of terrifying me with Lovecraftian images that haunt me for days.
Aaaaanyway.
Sexologist Mariela Castro Espín, director of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education, reckons that Cuba will soon have same-sex civil unions. Go, equality. Ka pai, Cuba.Castro said the reform package also recognizes the rights of transgender persons, people who for various reasons identify with a gender identity that differs from their original physiological and psychological status. The law would give Cuban men and women the legal right to change their sex after a medical diagnosis. She said that sex-change operations, including hormonal treatments, are already being carried out in Cuba, and medical personnel are being trained to carry out such procedures.
Castro also mentioned that the Cuban government’s education ministries have already agreed to undertake efforts, through changes in the curriculum, to eliminate prejudice against gays, lesbians and transgender persons among young people.