Gay Geeks!

According to a recent US national survey gays lead heteros in technology use with more cell phone service, HD TV and Cable TV than straight people.

As reported on Yahoo, "These newest findings corroborate the enthusiasm and affinity that gay and lesbian consumers have for electronic technology and their propensity to seek out the latest trends in consumer electronics and television... The research also suggests that as gays continue to embrace emerging technologies such as HDTV, there is room for innovations that would continue to spur the buying preferences of trend-setting gay customers..."

Looks like there's another gay Friendster out there. Connexion is an "online community that connects you to GLBT people around the globe through networks of friends for dating, conversation and fun," according to the Connexion website.

Other than a bit more content like general news items for the queer community, live chat, and a publily accessible calendar I'm not what the difefrence is between Connexion and DowneLink (see Big Queer DownLinke)

In any event most of the people I know that tried Friendster quickly abandonded the site either removing their account or just never logged in again. I'm not sure if there's any more incentive for the queer social networking sites.

Apparently support for gay marriage not only is a sign of open mindedness and support for basic human rights but also a sign your own marriage is strong.

Massachusetts, the state with the lowest divorce rate in the USA is also the one state whose residents felt secure enough in their own relationships to legalize gay marriage. On the other hand, the most conservative and vehmently anti gay marriage states had the highest rate of divorce.

"[A]reas of the country where divorce rates are highest are also frequently the areas where many conservative Christians live. Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas, for example, voted overwhelmingly for constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage. But they had three of the highest divorce rates in 2003. ... The lowest divorce rates are largely in the blue states: the Northeast and the upper Midwest. And the state with the lowest divorce rate was Massachusetts, home to John Kerry, the Kennedys and same-sex marriage." -- Columnist Pam Belluck, The New York Times, Nov. 14.

Perhaps people should try to get their own lives in order before they try to control the lives of others based on their own personal religions.

For those keeping track add New Zealand to the list of countries now offering same-sex unions. When the New Zealand parliments December 10, 2004 vote was announced "same-sex couples cheered and applauded from the parliament's public gallery" according to Reuters.

Officially New Zealand civil unions will begin to be recognized in April.

As much as I love Canada for what they have done as a country in support of human rights for all including gays and lesbians it's clarly not a queer utopia.

According to Canada.com A convicted killer was released on bail pending sentencing in January. Ryan Cran was convicted of manslaughter in the "swarming and beating death of Aaron Webster" in Vancouver's Stanley Park in 2001.

Two youths were given a two year sentence for cooperating with authorities and anoter man convicted of manslaugher in December was sentenced to just two years.

Webster's sister was quoted in www.Canada.com, "Aaron was peaceful, loving, kind," she said, weeping. "We hope he will be remembered that way, not as the homosexual murdered in Stanley Park."

According to one Brian Teeter, a courtroom spectator this was not an isolated incident, "Almost everyone one of my friends has been attacked at some point," he said. "We all feel it very personally. That's why there was such intensity in the courtroom today."

While gay marriage is legal in Canada and Canadian citizens can sponsor their same-sex partners from other countries for "green cards" it's clear that the hate against gays and lesbians won't stop with such leniant sentences for killing people.