Makes me want to get a bug for my son and his partner!

Mary- Such an awesome response!

My mom drives that exact car!  Heehee

Valerie, kudos to you for posting this on Active Rain!  And thanks for the link as well.

What an inspirng story!

I'd not heard about this Valarie, thanks for sharing.

I had missed the story, too.  Thank you for the link to fagbug.com.... I just bought a t-shirt.  :-)

Valerie,

Thanks for posting this, hatred is not a family value like some would like for us to believe.  What a brave and courageous women, which is more I can say for the vandals. 

Thanks for the post. It saddens me that such hatred took place in Albany, my state capital.

Thanks for the link to fagbug.com I had seen this story before and believe this young person showed (and continues to show) tremendous courage by not backing down or hiding. For too long, the oppressed have not stood up and have not spoke up for many valid reasons. It has historically been difficult for those who see hatred and violence, either actual or implied, directed towards whatever group with whom they self identify to stand up, speak up, and act up. I applaud those who can stand up and I empathize with those who are not yet in a position to stand up. With the actions of this courageous woman the disenfranchised and the downtrodden grow stronger. Thank you Erin for you courage!

Thank you for posting this, we all need to be made aware of hatred. Sometimes I worry that the younger generations will stop being vigilant as we get farther away from WWII. It has not been that long since David Duke tried to run for public office, KKK credentials and all. I've marked the fagbug.com to favorites and thank you again.

Can anyone tell me why this post was flagged?  Are we seeing "hate crimes" here in AR as well? What's going on?

Other than not meeting 'word count' requirements, I'm not sure why this was flagged.   I hope it wasn't flagged for the wrong reasons!

I agree Jason, but was thinking maybe we should cover our bases. Email AR to make sure that is why. I'd bet money on the word count but there better not be another reason.

Valerie, thanks for sharing her story.  She got abused and wouldn't stand for it.  What a strong girl to take something crappy and turn it into a positive thing.  

This post has been unflagged..........I'm not sure why it was originally, but that was obviously an error.

It doesn't meet the word count for the automatic 200 points, but the message is something you are surely free to pass on Valerie.

:o) @ Bob.

Good show Bob! Vindication AR style!

It was flagged by the below post.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/170173/A-R-Clean-Up

Thanks Bob!

Thank you Bob!

Thanks Bob - I now feel free to post my Mummers pictures again.

(I look really good in satin bloomers)

Thanks for posting this.

Valerie,

Check out the support from the Active Rain community in this nasty post: 

A.R. Clean Up Alert

You have not posted since 9/07, I hope the response by a very disagreeable member didn't chase you away. If it did then I personally want you to know that this community does not support hatred.  If you left for this reason please come back. 

Okay, out of deference to people in the Christian group itself, I took down my screen shot. From a strictly administrative, peer pressure, AR code and human decency perspective however, I think there needs to be a way that moderators of groups can go in and periodically check to make sure nothing awful has gotten posted into a group.

Do you guys agree with me? I mean, we all get busy, but if we have taken on the 'charge' of moderating a group, i think that means we have to adminster it. JMHO

Good move Bob! And to you Valerie - you have given me permission to market to gays and lesbians through Localism. I work for the oldest gay and lesbian Realty in Portland and I am so proud to be here.

On a similar note, a friend of mine had a pro-gay political sticker on his truck and was accosted and beaten when he went into the men's locker room at the gym. This just doesn't need to happen anymore!!!

Valerie- great post, something that SHOULD open peoples eyes.

Erin - stay tough and keep it up!

I went to comment on the other post, but it was either removed or taken down by the Member who wrote it. 

Valerie,

You received LOTS of support from members of the AR community.  As Marc mentions above it appears as if the referenced post was deleted.  I spent quite a bit of time writing what I hoped was a rational & well worded comment on the post and unfortunately it appears to be lost forever now that the post was deleted.

Please come back to the rain - your posts are refreshing.

Anthony,

Whether warranted or not, Try to stay away from the name calling please. :)

Michael,

Your rational and well thought out comment was not lost. I have a copy of the blog post and I sent you a copy of your thoughtful response. You should have it in your email. 

Thank you Bob.  I appreciate having a copy!

Anthony, I have to agree with Bob. If we step to the level of Bill's post, then we are no better than him. My attempt was not to get him removed but to give a perspective that all could hopefully see.

Michael, I loved your comment. I thought that it was golden and even fielded some emails that thought that you were siding with Bill. I had to explain it is all in the words. Nicely put.

Bob, thank you for the action. A community will rest well tonight now that this is done.

Valarie, come back. You can not allow for this to win over you. If you do, then you have lost the fight already. Be strong in your beliefs and lean on your family here in ActiveRain. Today should be a testament to how strong their voices are.

Thanks Danny!  My response to his writing was all in the spirit of Sun-tzu, the ancient Chinese general and military strategist:  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer! 

I had to use terms and wording that maybe would have somehow reached the guy.  I knew I was running the risk of misinterpretation from others but I figured I'd correct that problem where and when needed.

Michael, I hope that I helped to resolve some of those.

And you know, a good thing has come from this, since we started today, this blog has increase to 33 comments and will bring some additional points to Valarie.

Valerie ~  I am personally a heterosexual and a Christian.  The Bible does talk about homosexuality, and not as it being a good thing.  Although I may be unpopular for saying that, I would also like to say...the Bible also says not to judge or we will be judged with the same measure.  God looks at the heart that I cannot see.  I see, however, that you have a heart which cares about others.  May your day be richly blessed.  :)

Thank you everyone for the support on this blog.

I think everyone is entitled to their freedom to express their opinion of it just as I was entitled to express mine. But I thank everyone for their input and support.

Good for Erin; taking a negative and making it positive. 

And good for your.  Love your last comment.So true...

Valerie...I'm late to your post.  Fortunately, Danny's post helped me find you.  I agree with you that everyone is entitled to express their opinion but we do not have the right to be hurtful.  You do not deserve to be hurt because someone does not agree with you.  And we cannot stand by and allow it.

Take care,

Kathleen

I love that this post keeps staying alive.  I first posted a response back on August 10th!  Valerie...any updates on her story?

Valerie, I agree with Mary that it is great to see that a positive post is still being read.

I'm still around luckily not defeated just mindful of the web locations where I spend my time I guess. My apologies in being absent.

 I truly can't believe how this one post became a huge combat zone followed by kind words and support. Thank you.