I couple of months ago, I caved to some friends’ requests and joined facebook.  Since then, I have stumbled upon and gotten friend requests from so many old friends/aquaintances I haven’t spoken to in years… in some instances 10+ years (since I was roughly 18 and I’m soon to be 30! yikes!). 

This has given me pause for thought.  Many of these individuals I knew from the small, Christian high school I attended.  This makes me somewhat sad in a sense.  I am both the same person I was in high school and at the same time, completely different. 

The ways I am the same:  I have always led with and will continue to lead with my heart, I hold an extremely high value of family, I treat others the way I would like to be treated and strongly believe you reap what you sow, I have a genuine love for people/life and through them a love for God, I am honest and completely suck at lying, I have a very strong work ethic, and I believe most things and people go a lot deeper than face-value.         

The ways I am different:  I have become truly honest with myself concerning my emotions and who I really am, I am so much stronger and wiser and am 100% more accepting and even appreciative of people’s differences, I have learned that the world is not black and white (as I was once taught) and that there are endless shades of grey and colors, but most importantly I realize that it is wrong to judge another person’s heart/soul especially when you have never walked a day in their shoes. 

Overall, I am still the same girl at heart, only older and wiser with some life experience under my belt.  I am still the same student who my pastor in high school called “a blessing” and presented with an award on graduation for being the most “Christ-like” in my class.  But what makes me sad is that I believe many of the same people who once viewed me as “Christ-like” in high school would today deem me as ”lost” because of my sexual orientation.  Deep down my heart is still the same, yet their perception of me would be completely changed based one simple factor… who I fall in love with. 

All I know is that the other day, my sister told me she ran into my old pastor while coming out of a CVS.  She said he asked about me and wanted to know how I was doing.  He wanted to know if I was married.  He told her I was one of the best students his Christian school had ever had.  And when she told me this, I felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow.  He has no idea that I am gay.

I just hope that I will be able to open the hearts and eyes of those who use religion to justify their prejudice.

Ok, so I read an article this evening concerningKenny Chesney’s reaction to rumors surrounding his sexuality.  In an interview with Playboy magazine, Chesney protested the gay rumors stating, “What guy who loves girls wouldn’t be angry about that? I didn’t sign up for that.” 
Apparently, Chesney told the magazine, “I’m pretty confident in the fact that I love girls. [laughs] I’ve got a long line of girls who could testify that I’m not gay.”  He went on to boast, “There were years when I had a better summer than A-Rod, ” adding that he’s been with “over 100″ women.

Now I don’t know about you, but I have a problem with this on so many levels. 

First off - it makes me sad that people in our society (especially men) are still so homophobic.  Why does this even matter?   

Secondly - I’m sorry Kenny, but as a celebrity in the lime light who makes millions of dollars for strumming your guitar, you did sign up to be scrutinized by the public and I don’t feel one bit sorry for you.  There’s people all across this country losing their jobs due to this crappy economy and all you can do is whine to Playboy magazine about how gay rumors make you angry… Seriously?

Thirdly -  If you’re not gay, Kenny, then I have to surmise that you’re extremely insecure.  This is because no secure, straight man would feel the need to so strongly protest the rumors.

Fourthly - I don’t care what you do in your bedroom, but broadcasting how you’ve laid over 100 women to the entire world just makes me think that you lack class.  It also confirms to me that you’re insecure. 

Fifthly - I really do enjoy some of your music… It’s too bad I have such a low opinion of you now.

The weather people are predicting that it will hit 66 degrees today!  66 degrees!!  Can you believe that?!  That’s crazy for mid-February in Chicago.  The record high up ’til now was 56 degrees back in 1965.  Although I welcome such mild weather, It also scares me.  It’s a reminder that global warming is a serious problem.