Terry Angel Mason, internationally-renowned author, keynote speaker, poet, singer, songwriter, minister, columnist and civil rights activist was selected as The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Spokesperson for 2012.

VIEW MASON'S COMPELLING INTERVIEW OF FOX 5 MORNING SHOW/NEWS

Los Angeles, CA- With a Pulitzer nominated book under his belt, and a highly anticipated sophomore release slated for release next month, Terry Angel Mason is regarded as one of the most prolific and influential writers of our time. 

The esteemed author, HIV/AIDS advocate and civil rights icon will be a special guest on Fox Channel 5’s morning show on February 7^th, and will be speaking about HIV/AIDS in the African community; an ongoing battle Mason knows too well. A survivor of full-blown AIDS, Mason is an internationally renowned HIV/AIDS advocate who recently made headlines after being named the spokesperson for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day for 2012. 

According to Mason, “HIV/AIDS is having a devastating impact on African Americans, and in spite of educational programs and HIV/AIDS campaigns, HIV/AIDS continues to grow at alarming rates. Many people are dying because of ignorance. My goal is to change that, and to help save lives.” 

According to the Dept. of Health Education & Promotions, African American men make up 40% of the new AIDS cases among males, and African American women represent 62% of the new AIDS cases reported among females. “With each passing year, we loose more people to HIV/AIDS, and I won’t stop fighting until we win the war,” says Mason. 

Best known for his memorable collection of writings, Love Won’t Let Me Be Silent, and his thought-provoking commentaries, Mason’s work inspires, educates and empowers millions around the world. 

Angel is the recipient of several distinguished awards, including a Certificate of Commendation from Ron Roberts, the chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the San Diego KFMB Channel 8 Cares Award and has been named by the National Urban League as a national success story. 

The San Diego mayor is also issuing a special proclamation of commendation in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and for the extraordinary achievements Mason has made in his community and as a HIV/AIDS activist.

An in-demand civil rights leader, Mason is a special guest at events in Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, and other major cities. On February 7, 2012, Angel is set to participate at the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness event, taking place at the Tubman-Chavez Center in San Diego. Click here for details:

http://terryangelmason.com/my-itinerary-_277.html

Mason is available for media interviews and speaking engagements for Black History Month.

For all media interview considerations, or to request Angel Mason to appear or speak at your Pride event, contact Florence Edwards at 310-746-7149. Because of Mason’s busy schedule, please note that we cannot accommodate all requests; therefore it is essential to contact us as soon as possible to ensure his presence or participation at your event.

Terry Angel Mason has been featured in the following publications and/or news venues: (Lee Bailey's) eurweb.com, The Los Angeles Sentinel, The East County Magazine, Five (5) Magazine, Whosoever Magazine, SGL Weekly Magazine, Outword Magazine, The NBJC Newsletter, The Advocate, Frontier Magazine, Broadway World, The Windy City Times Newspaper, New Pittsburgh Courier, New England Informer, Our Weekly Magazine, Out Impact, The San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, The San Diego Gay and Lesbian Times, The San Diego Union Tribune, ME Magazine, POZ Magazine, The New Civil Rights Online Magazine, A&U Magazine, Religious Tolerance, Marriage Equality International, Homorazzi, BN&S News Commentary, Real Health Magazine, Q Magazine, MSNBC News Vine, ILGA, Out Military Online Magazine, Proud Parenting Web Magazine, Fuse Magazine, Echelon Magazine, The Bay Area Reporter, Connextions Magazine, and in many other publications.

To purchase Mason’s books, read breaking news stories, feature articles, interviews, or obtain more information about the author, visit his website at www.TerryAngelMason.com.

AND READ THE FEATURE ARTICLE THAT INSPIRED MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD!

When an Angel Speaks

THE ARTICLE IS FEATURED IN THE LOS ANGELES SENTINEL NEWSPAPER - COMMEMORATIVE KING ISSUE (Release Date: January 11, 2012) Also featured in numerous other National Publications

The Endangered Middle Class is on Life Support.. and the Republicans are poised to pull the plug!

'FTG' Presents... 'When an Angel Speaks'

Social Commentary from Bishop Terry Angel Mason

On December 30, 2011, From The G-Man published a special feature entitled Terry Angel Mason: "PRIDE of the LGBT Community", which can be read by clicking on this link:

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/12/terry-angel-mason-pride-of-lgbt.html

The article was extremely well-received and Bishop Mason was offered an opportunity to submit articles to this site on an ongoing basis. He has graciously accepted the invitation and will serve as a contributing writer. Having said that, From The G-Man now presents the first installment of Bishop Mason's "When an Angel Speaks".

Part 1: Don't Blame the President! Don't Blame the Congress! 
Blame yourselves!

It is January 2012, and the insanity of the 2012 presidential election has begun. I believe the word "insanity" is appropriate and succinct because of the axiom which states that "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." This adage takes on an even more prophetic and Nostradamean meaning when you consider that this fall, once again, the American people are going to the polls in an insane attempt to select a President to lead them out of the morass, muck and mire that has afflicted our country and symbolized its politics!

I contend that "insane" is the correct word because unless we do something different, we will not effect any meaningful change, no matter who wins the White House this fall. Moreover, that different thing that we MUST DO is pause for a moment and reflect upon our choices and the actions that WE MUST TAKE in order to save our country, which is dangerously teetering on the edge of the abyss.Firstly, we must vote according to our own self-interests. This is usually what most voters do, but in this presidential election we must intelligently re-define what our BEST self-interest is, and because I am advocating for the endangered middle class, I assert that the most important and critical self-interest we have is SURVIVAL!

The Republican party is hell bent upon destroying us, the Endangered Middle Class. Why else would Congressional and Senatorial Republicans try to eliminate Social Security and Medicare through the Ryan Plan, in addition to killing almost every job bill that the White House has proposed? The proposed bills could have added thousands, if not tens of thousands, of high paying jobs to a crippled economy.

The Democratic Party has been feverishly attempting to resuscitate a grievously ailing national economy and the Republican Party is withholding the critical assistance needed to heal the patient. Why is this? You need only to look back upon Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's vow in 2008 when he said, "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."  The Republican Party officials do not care about the economy because THEY HAVE MORPHED INTO THE PARTY OF THE RICH! This is why they do not worry about the Endangered Middle Class because they cannot relate to us. They don't know how hard it is to balance a shrinking paycheck against rising expenses. They don't know the pain of losing long held treasured jobs because of greedy avaricious bank initiated financial recessions. They don't lose sleep at night worrying about staving off foreclosure on their homes, despite the fact that MANY ALREADY HAVE LOST their homes! So why should The Republican Party care about us the Endangered Middle Class? The answer is THEY DON'T AND THEY WILL NEVER CARE! Why not? The answer is simple. It is not in their best self-interest to do so. Period!

This brings me to the crux of my argument, which is the important and irrefutable fact that it is not enough to re-elect President Obama. We must ALSO elect Democratic congressional representatives and Democratic senators to aid Obama in implementing his policies. It is not enough to just vote for the man with the vision! We must also put in place people who support that vision and the visionary!

President Obama should not have to do all the heavy lifting! It is our responsibility to give him some help! It is imperative that we elect enough Democrats to regain control of the House of Representatives and MAINTAIN control of the Senate. Hello, Endangered Middle Class America, ARE YOU LISTENING?!! It is only by the regaining and maintaining control of Congress and The White House can we thwart and undo the grievous damage inflicted upon our beloved nation.The Republicans are masters of distraction! Their current strategy is to portray Obama as  someone unable to fulfill "pie-in-the-sky" campaign promises. But what they don't tell you is that every promise he has attempted to keep, promises ranging from rescuing the economy to delivering jobs, the Republican Party has thwarted, obstructed, if not down right killed!

Divided government does not work, especially if one faction of government acts like a bunch of jealous extremists that would be willing to destroy our beloved country to make or win an ideological point. Remember the debt ceiling crisis and how perilously close the Republican Tea Party Congressional officials brought us to defaulting on our national debt, which would have destroyed our economy and plunged the world into a global depression? This unnecessary political posturing resulted in the downgrading of America's credit rating. Moreover, the Republican Party had the audacity and malevolent cunning to blatantly lie and falsely attribute this debacle to Obama.

An anonymous writer who wrote under the pseudonym General R. Never said, "People deserve the government they permit!" Furthermore, if we don't WAKE UP and vote in our own best interest by voting for Obama and other Democrats, then we, the Endangered Middle Class, deserve the inevitable pain, misery, heartache and death that will surely come when the Republican Party pulls the plug on us. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on "going gently into that good night." I'm going to vote for every good democrat I can find!

About Global Author Terry Angel Mason   
 
Terry Angel Mason is an internationally renowned author, columnist, keynote speaker, poet, singer, songwriter, minister, and Civil Rights activist who currently resides is Southern California. He is the author of three popular titles, Love Won't Let Me Be Silent, They Say That I am Broken, and The Dream Keeper, set to be released in 2012. A revered leader and global change agent, Terry Angel Mason's mission is to inspire, educate and empower millions around the world, and promote love and acceptance for all people. A highly sought after author and activist, Mason has been featured in (Lee Bailey's) eurweb.com, The Los Angeles Sentinel, Healthy Black Men, The East County Magazine, Five (5) Magazine, Whosoever Magazine, SGL Weekly Magazine, Outword Magazine, The NBJC Newsletter, The Advocate, Frontier Magazine, Broadway World, The Windy City Times Newspaper, New Pittsburgh Courier, New England Informer, Our Weekly Magazine, Out Impact, The San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, The San Diego Gay and Lesbian Times, The San Diego Union Tribune, ME Magazine, POZ Magazine, The New Civil Rights Online Magazine, A&U Magazine, Religious Tolerance, Marriage Equality International, Homorazzi, BN&S News Commentary, Real Health Magazine, Q Magazine, MSNBC News Vine, ILGA, Out Military Online Magazine, Proud Parenting Web Magazine, Fuse Magazine, Echelon Magazine, The Bay Area Reporter, Connextions Magazine, and in many other publications.WWW.TERRYANGELMASON.COM

Follow Angel Mason on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ALOVEBALLAD

Photo courtesy of Bishop Terry Angel Mason 

Lord, My Child is Gay, What Do I Do?

(Something every parent who has a child should read!)

Believe it or not, this statement has been heard in the ears of The Creator more times than you or I could ever imagine! It is the prayer of the desperate mother and father who fear that he or she has done something so wrong in rearing their child, until the outcome has been disastrous. Minutes go by, hours go by, and to the dismay of the parent(s), his or her petition has not been answered. Not a peep from Heaven, not even a whisper. But it never occurs to that mother or father that maybe the lack of a response to their desperate plea is an answer in itself.

Days go by, and a trillion questions fill the mind of that mother and father – with the most pressing questions being: What did I do wrong? Why is my child this way? What are my friends and relatives going to think? What are the people at church going to say? Does this mean my child will never marry someone of the opposite sex and I may never have grandchildren? Who’s going to carry on the family name? Did this happen because I was too overbearing as a mother? Did he turn out this way because he did not spend enough time with his father? And the list goes on. And of course for the mother and father who have deep religious convictions arises the ultimate question: “Will my child go to Hell because he or she is gay?"

And what is even more disheartening – perhaps more than the fact that the parent has now discovered that their child may be gay – is that all of their lofty dreams for that child have somehow been maliciously stolen in the middle of the night by some perverted thief while everyone was sleeping. However, in reality, that child didn’t just wake up and discover that he or she liked someone of the same gender; this was a natural process of development for him or her, as natural as how any other heterosexual child grows and matures.

Even though to you as a parent, it seems opposed to everything that you believe and everything you wanted and dreamed of for your child, denying who that child is will never change the outcome. You can’t pray it away, cast it out, fast it away, wish it away, hope it away, beat it out of them, or try to change their orientation by insisting they act more masculine or more feminine. It is who they are!

It is vital for each parent of every gay child to understand that when they attempt to force elimination or suppression of the most natural part of who that child is as an individual (that being “sexual orientation”), that lends itself to mental illness, weakens the immune system -- making the person more vulnerable to disease -- and prevents the child from forming wholesome relationships with people and with God. It also prevents the child from developing the people-skills that are necessary to establish and maintain wholesome loving relationships because he or she has been told that their expression of love is somehow sinful or wrong.

The result is often a slew of brief sexual encounters that never fully satisfy and endless sabotaged relationships that leave him or her bitter, alone, and loveless at the end of their lives.

As much and as hard as you may try to make time stand still while you catch your breath and wrap your mind around what is happening to you, remember: it is not just happening to you; it is also happening to your little Daniel or Julie, who has a whole lot more to figure out and process than you could ever imagine. He or she is now engaged in the greatest challenge any human being will ever have to face. If you poise yourself as the enemy of your child’s orientation, he or she may become a casualty of life and literally may not survive it. Statistics have proved that thousands of youths jump off bridges, take drugs, succumb to alcoholism, and become estranged from their own families in a desperate attempt to silence the inner conflict and pain that they feel inside because they now realize without a doubt that they are gay!

It is for this reason that I earnestly speak to the love in you, the compassion in you, the mercy in you, the wisdom in you, and most of all, the sanity in you on behalf of your child. I know that you dreamed of the day when you would plan your daughter’s wedding or hold your son’s newborn child in your arms, and you have waited an entire lifetime to be the doting grandparent. But again, I want to remind you that your child is engaged in a battle, in the very center of a fierce war zone, and the enemy called “LIFE” has the upper hand. Whether he or she comes out on the other side of the battle alive and unscathed not only depends on the psychological fortitude and stamina of the child but on you as a loving parent.

What I am asking you to do may seem difficult and at first unreasonable to you because deep down inside, you want something so different for your child. I am appealing to the SUPER PARENT in you that would go days without food if need be to make sure your child has food to eat. I am appealing to the deepest part of your humanity, and I am asking that part of you to RISE UP AND GET YOUR SECOND WIND and be determined that your child is going to live to fulfill his or her divine destiny and declare the glory of the Lord by blessing the world with all the gifts and abilities that lie in him or her – NOT DIE.

If the God you say you serve, that you claim is all-knowing, omnipresent, omnipotent (unlimited in power) -- if He is in fact all of these things, I can assure you that He can handle any problem or challenge you or your child is faced with. Know emphatically, however, that the only physical eyes your child sees (that represent God) are yours. The only loving touch he feels is yours. The words that he hears in his ears are yours. Since you profess to be a God’s child, it is vital that you not allow your fears, disappointments, and disapproval of his or her lifestyle to distort their view of God. This type of misrepresentation has been the main reason millions of same-gender-loving people have exited churches by the masses, falsely thinking that God does not love them – and even hates them because they are gay.

One day, I fear that many well-meaning Christians will have to stand before the Prince of Peace, The King of the Universe, stained with the blood of millions on their hands, having to give an account for those whom they bashed from the pulpit as they heralded legalistic doctrine instead of wooing them to Christ with love and mercy.

I realize that you desperately want to know the answers to all the whys, but what is more important is not to understand but rather to respect your child’s right to choose. No Pastor, Bishop, Priest, or Clergyman could ever deny the fact that God has given each of His created beings a free will and the right to choose. If The Creator will not override our will or deny us that right, then no human being has the right to deny any other human being of those God-endowed privileges.

While your child may not have chosen his or her orientation, he has chosen to face the reality that he is who he is. He has accepted the reality that even though his natural inclinations are different from many others around him, he has to be true to himself. This decision is perhaps more godly than you could ever imagine because Scripture says that God desires truth on the inward part (Psalm 51:6). Rejection of your child’s sexual orientation has the potential to lay the foundation for sham marriages and closeted DL relationships, possibly exposing unsuspecting spouses to life-threatening diseases. The DL brother and the cheating lesbian wife are proof of the fact that a person’s true orientation or preference is going to emerge and express itself in spite of what others may say or think.

Many will say that my recommendations for how to minister to your child are to adopt a “DO NOTHING ATTITUDE”; but on the contrary, what I am really suggesting is the opposite! Teach your child to love himself and to respect his or her body as a temple of God. Tell him sex is a beautiful experience, not to be taken lightly or to be engaged in haphazardly. Help him or her to understand that everything we do, every choice we make is not without consequences, and therefore, we must be ever mindful of these truths and make good decisions. Tell them how much you love them, how much God loves them, and do everything possible to prepare your child to successfully hurdle all the hateful comments -- comments like "God hates fags” and “all gay people are going to Hell" because these things are not so!

Do everything to shore up him or her emotionally so that they can successfully combat a society riddled with prejudice and homophobia, something he or she will undoubtedly experience in their lifetime as a result of being gay. Tell your child that there is no different measuring stick for gay relationships than for heterosexual ones when it comes to selecting a suitable companion. Make sure that you get over to him or her how important it is for them to develop the skills that will help them to properly discern when selecting a life partner, no matter what the gender.

They will interpret these actions in the light of truth and love, and your actions will speak volumes to them. For the love you demonstrate to them because they are your children will transform them into whole, balanced children with a true sense of pride and direction. You will ever rejoice for having rescued them from the throes of life, and your willingness to accept them as they are will reflect the awesome love of God and draw them to His loving presence. Then release them into His care with the assurance that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think! (Ephes. 3:20)

In Loving Memory of my Mother and Father,

Ethel and Paul Mason

who loved me unconditionally.

Afraid to tell your family and friends that you are gay?
Have a gay son or lesbian daughter and not sure how to handle the situation?
Know someone who is struggling with reconciling their sexuality and spirituality?

Then this excerpt from

LOVE WON'T LET ME BE SILENT
is just for YOU!

You can download this excerpt free and even email it to a family member or friend!

The French philosopher Voltaire declaimed,
"Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come!"
That idea is equality for all.
Out of the struggle for equal rights, emerges one powerful compelling voice that touches the hearts of men and women everywhere,
passionately giving credence to that ideal.
This new voice has inspired a cultural revolution, motivating and empowering millions to stand up for their God-given rights.
Finally, today's generation has received their advocate
and their just due in the person of acclaimed author
and Civil Rights Activist,
Terry Angel Mason!
-Asim, Songwriter, Lyricist, Author and Creative Writer

              One of the most progressive, yet highly controversial military policy change that has been recently proposed is the is the repealing of the" Don't Ask Don't Tell" law. In 1993 Congress passed the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy. Don't ask, don't tell (DADT) is the common term for the policy restricting the United States military from efforts to discover or reveal closeted gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members or applicants, while barring those that are openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual from military service. These restrictions are mandated by federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654) the policy prohibits anyone who "demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States.  

            This is a hot button issue because of the intense emotions and opinions it evokes on both sides of the argument. The opponents of repealing DADT argued that it will undermine the morale and discipline of the armed forces, thus degrading and subverting the military cohesiveness which is essential to maintain a superior fighting unit. Proponents for repealing DADT countered that the law should be repealed because firstly, gay soldiers have always been part of the Armed Forces since its inception and the military unfairly and arbitrarily administers DADT. Secondly, the law violates the civil rights of gay soldiers. Thirdly, the law fails in its original purpose in protecting gay soldiers from being outed, harassed, and injured. And fourthly, our present day military cannot afford to lose any more qualified and highly trained personnel.  

            As a result of these reasons and many others, on December 22, 2010 President Obama signed into law, congressional legislation overturning DADT, and now the military process has begun which will allow gay men and women to serve openly. When we analyze and investigate the arguments for the repealing of DADT, we find very compelling reasons for doing so. 

            DADT prohibited any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  In the first reason for repealing DADT, opponents of DADT argue that openly gay soldiers serving in the military will have an injurious and debilitating effect on morale, but as we research the historical beginning of the first American military force, we find that is not true and if it was not for the efforts and contributions of gay soldiers, we would have lost the war to England and the United States would have never came into being. 

             Randy Shilts' book "Conduct Unbecoming: Lesbians and Gays in the U.S. Military" supports this very fact. It states, "Even before the armed forces of the United States were formally organized, gays were bearing arms for the yet unborn nation. The United States might have never become a nation, in fact, were it not for the services of one particular openly gay general in the first difficult years of the American Revolution. In 1777, the rebellion was going badly. General George Washington made a dashing figure on horseback and was revered by his troops, but he had little background in the art of military drills and training. Thirteen disparate and mutually suspicious colonies had contributed soldiers for what were, in effect, thirteen different armies. Though all fought under the fraying banner of the Continental Army, they were not yet one unified and disciplined force. 

The army desperately needed training, and in Paris, Benjamin Franklin wisely plotted to supply the one man he believed could save them: Baron Frederich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben, one of Europe's leading military prodigies. According to Randy Shilts, " Steuben was the son of a Prussian army officer of high enough rank to be able to secure King Frederick William I as godfather for the infant." Through this association  he was able to secure an appointment as an aide to King William II, who was a notorious gay ruler (he banished all women from his court)  and was also one of the most brilliant and pre-eminent military strategists in Europe. King William II's military genius transformed Prussia from a weak nation into one of the most powerful countries in Europe. King William II then trained 13 hand picked officers and personally instructed them in the fine arts of war; Baron Steuben was one of these thirteen. 

            In paraphrasing Randy Shilts, when Steuben arrived at Valley Forge, he realized that The Continental Army was on the verge of collapse. The army had no uniformity or discipline. Some soldiers drilled in the French style, some in the English style, and others in the Prussian style. Steuben immediately set about to correct this problem. He began writing a manual on the instruction of drilling and taught the concepts to the men which was unheard of because like the British Officers, American officers felt that it was beneath them to drill the men, but not Steuben, and this zealousness endeared him to the soldiers. Steuben was so meticulous and passionate that when his men poorly performed in training, he would swear at them (as most present day drill instructors still continue to do). And because of his limited English vocabulary, he had his two American aides teach him better English profanities to inspire and motivate the men. 

He acquired the reputation as a real and dedicated soldier and not an effete stereotype. Shilts goes on to say "In three days time, George Washington was so impressed with Steuben's progress that he ordered Steuben's training to be extended to his entire command. No general in the Continental Army would do any more drills he added, until they had Steuben's specific instructions." Two days later, the whole army at Valley Forge was drilling under Steuben's guidance." Members of the model brigade became the drill masters who trained others, who in turn became drill masters who trained others as they had been trained. 

            Five weeks after the first drill, Washington appointed Steuben as the First Inspector General of the Army. Six days after that, Congress commissioned him as a Major General. A year later, Congress enacted Steuben's "Regulations for the Order and Discipline for the Troops of the United States." Then Randy Shilts puts Steuben's contributions into historical context and significance. He says,"His impact on the revolutionary cause is incalculable. Some historians have counted Steuben along with George Washington, as one of only two men whose services were" indispensable" to the success of the Revolution! 

            When the American cause was won at Yorktown and Washington issued his congratulatory orders, Steuben was one of only three commanders he singled out for praise. In 1783, General Washington's last official act as Commander-in-Chief was to write a letter thanking Steuben. As Colonel Alexander Hamilton later wrote, "Tis unquestionably due to his efforts, we are indebted for the introduction of discipline in the Army." After Von Steuben's magnificent and legendary contributions to the Revolutionary cause, one would think that the nascent American military would see the value in allowing gays to serve openly in the militia, but not so, because at the time Von Steuben was transforming our woefully undertrained and under-disciplined army into a victorious battle-ready militia, General Washington was approving a court-martial and subsequent discharge of a Lieutenant Frederick Enslin.  Lieutenant Enslin was charged with sodomy and had the dubious distinction of being the first gay soldier to be discharged "with infamy" according to Randy Shilts.The second argument for repealing DADT is that this very law and the present  Military mistreatment of gays violated their civil rights and conferred upon them second class citizenship. There is a direct correlation of the mistreatment of gay soldiers to the manner in which blacks and women were mistreated by the government in the past. This was a painful and shameful period in our nation's history, in  which  a great many of our nation's citizens were denied the right to share in  America's opportunity and largesse, simply because their skin color was different or their chromosomal markers read XX instead of XY.  It was argued that desegregating the Armed Forces would harm it irreparably…It did not! It was also said that allowing women into the military would be equally as destructive…it has not! Proponents for repealing DADT feel confident that the same positive result will be forthcoming when gays are allowed to serve openly. 

            The third argument for repealing DADT is that the law was a blatant failure. Despite the so-called legal protection that it supposedly offered to gays: meaning the right to live and serve "closeted", gay soldiers were still being outed , harassed, and discharged by military homophobes who had resorted to going through gay soldiers' private emails, and invading other areas of their personal life to acquire  sensitive information in order to destroy their professional lives. And the majority of these hapless gay soldiers were military professionals who love the service and have outstanding professional records. This leads me to the fourth and final argument for repealing DADT, which is we cannot afford to lose any more qualified military professionals. Due to our active participation in mulitiple wars at present (and another one looming in Libya), our Military is precariously and dangerously stretched thin. We are critically undermanned. Military re-enlistment quotas have suffered so dramatically and drastically that the military has now lowered the moral requirements to join the armed forces. The Military will now accept and allow felons and other societal undesirables to serve our country, but will not allow, and will unswervingly and self-destructively vilify, ostracize, and discharge exemplary outstanding gay soldiers because their only crime is to be lovers of the same gender. In pursuing this unjustifiable vendetta against gay soldiers, we have wasted over 340 hundred million dollars in training them, and then prosecuting and discharging them. Consequently, our military is all the weaker for it. We applaud the brave and wise legislators, as well as the political leadership that President Obama has bravely demonstrated for standing on the right side of history and repealing this onerous and discriminatory law. We praise them for exhibiting the courage for stopping this insanity and ending this hypocritical policy of duplicity and paranoia which has made us the laughingstock of the civilized military world. Many other progressive and enlightened nations such as: the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Israel, and the Netherlands have integrated their Armed Forces with openly gay soldiers and have not suffered any noticeable measurement of decreased inefficiency or poor morale. In order to revive and restore our fragile, overstressed, and overworked military, we must rehabilitate it. 

We must realize that the strength of America is in the diversity of it!  Many gay women and men contribute enormously to our great country, and they do so as well in the military. I believe that we can empower them to do more now that we removed DADT. For when we remove the stressful atmosphere of fear of discovery and harassment, then we will surely strengthen our armed forces and improve the quality of life of those heterosexuals and homosexuals who both serve.  French philosopher Voltaire, a contemporary and compatriot of Steuben our first gay general remarked, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come!" And the time finally came to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell!"

 Excerpt from my new Book: They Say That I Am Broken (Release Date: FALL 2011)

About Mason's New Book

Every now and then, a piece of gay affirming literature written from a Black same-gender-loving perspective comes along that has the power to not only entertain but to be transformative.

In the early 90's Keith Boykin's One More River To Cross became the light in a dark tunnel that was my foreseeable future filled with loneliness, depression, rejection, and a sense of unworthiness-in a hostile and homophobic society that tried to convince me that this is what I would experience in life as a gay man.

Nearly thirteen years after Boykin's book was published and considerable achievements by black gay authors in a myriad of genres have occurred, gay author and ordained minister Terry Angel Mason emerges with They Say That I Am Broken, a collection of essays, short stories and poems written to affirm the black gay experience.

A work of non-fiction, They Say That I Am Broken is slightly autobiographical as Mason cleverly weaves his life experiences as a black openly gay minister with the stories of so many wounded gay men of color navigating through life in search of acceptance, love, and equality.

Like it's predecessor, the best-selling book Love Won't Let Me Be Silent, where Mason spoke directly to parents of gay youth who often find it nearly impossible to reconcile conservative biblical teaching with homosexuality in chapters such as "Lord My Child is Gay, What Do I Do?", "What AIDS Cannot Do", and "Don't Walk Past Your Miracle", a look at the potential beautiful partners we overlook as gay men on a search for the fairy tale companion.

In They Say That I Am Broken, the formula may appear the same as Mason fearlessly takes on the hypocrisy of the black church in the essay "Don't Blame Me For Your Mess", but this global author expands his reach in the gut-wrenching "Uganda, My Heart Weeps For You", bringing to the forefront a modern day gay apartheid.

Mason masterfully tackles the intersection of race and homophobia in They Say That I Am Broken, while simultaneously challenging heterosexual privilege, leaving the reader with a profound sense of self-worth, whereas, before it may have been in question.

If black men loving other black men are considered a revolutionary act, then Mason provides a blueprint to love God, yourself, and ultimately the man of your choosing boldly and without reservation in They Say That I Am Broken.
It's a must read!

-Darian Aaron, Journalist and Author

Loldarian.com

In this electrifying book, Mason boldly asserts without apology, that the Church's present day attitude toward same-gender-loving people is not a transformative message, but rather an expression of legalism and spiritual violence that severely wounds and injures same-gender-loving people—many of whom are also committed Christians.

While it is widely known that Mason is a superb non-fiction writer, he is also a master of fiction. He creatively utilizes poetry within the annals of his writings to penetrate, explore, and express his perceptions of the complex moral and spiritual conflicts that plague mankind.

Poets have long used their poems to aid their passionate pursuits and Mason mirrors many of these gifted writers in that aspect as well. He writes sustained and articulate challenges to American racism, homophobia, and mandatory heterosexuality, while providing profound cures to these maladies. Additionally, the book provides a wealth of persuasive loving examples of how to maintain loving relationships, no matter what one's sexual preference may be.

Your eyes, heart, and intellect will dine sufficiently after having feasted upon this amazing compilation of poetry, short stories, essays, and commentaries. There is no doubt that They Say That I Am Broken is powerful and transformative! This is a book you will want to share with everyone you know. RELEASE DATE FALL 2011

Companion book to Love Won't Let Me Be Silent

The French philosopher Voltaire declaimed, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come." That idea is equality for all. Out of the struggle for equal rights, emerges one powerful compelling voice that touches the hearts of men and women everywhere, passionately giving credence to that ideal. This new voice has inspired a cultural revolution, motivating and empowering millions to stand up for their God-given rights. Finally, today's generation has received their advocate and their just due in the person of acclaimed author and Civil Rights Activist,
Terry Angel Mason!

VISIT THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE AT: WWW.TERRYANGELMASON.COM