the Wedding Dance

Click here to help be a part of the Feature Film FRIEND... Donating just a $1 can make a difference http://www.indiegogo.com/myfriend

Dear Friends,
My name is Elliot London... My passion is making gay cinema...
I have been working on a beautiful short film (THE WEDDING DANCE) about Equality in a different perspective. I would be so ever grateful if you would take a look at this 3 minute film and consider posting it when the time is so right to educate one another.

The objective with this project is to raise money for our feature film FRIEND. A film about coming out in 2012. A time now when things are so different with social networking. A time now that a child might not have the correct tools to coupe with humiliation in an instant world.

FRIEND is about giving back. Its a movie about accepting and loving oneself but most of all it is about educating. With the proceeds from this film I am going to be donating the profits to groups that help educate at risk youth... If we can raise $10,000 to make our last film with social networking. Than $250,000 can be done. Please take a look at the campaign we have started. Please share this film...

Thank You
Elliot London

A New Chapter in Life

It's been a month now since I read a horoscope saying that an event would occur that would change not only mine but several persons lives would happen. At 2:30 on the afternoon of February 9th there was a knock on my door... A Detective from the local sherifs department brought a very sad and hurt Josh to our door and asked if we knew him and if we could give him a place to stay. I was shocked to see how he looked. Those big puppy dog brown eyes were glazed over and looking very blank. He was still in shock and in pain. All he wanted to do was lay down and sleep.

One month later, It's been a very busy month. Several trips to the ER and a stay in the hospital for a few days, not to mention 2-3 Doctors appointments a week. They are not over and won't be for some time to come.

There have been many changes in the last month.His Parents drove down to see him and offer some help and needed love. His family has become much closer. They've gone back but stay in touch. It was a nice visit. A few friends have helped him. One did a lot but had strings attached. Others have helped him in various ways. Some sent money, some sent food, some sent clothes and other things he needs. Most of his clothes were ruined. His job is gone, he couldn't call in while he was in the ER bleeding so he was listed as no call-no show-no rehire. His apartment is gone, he is staying with us as long as he needs. He has found out who cares for him and who doesn't. There is some emotional damage but he is working on that. He is a very different person in many ways, but still has his sense of humor and caring for others that has only intensified.

When asked how he is.. he smiles and says "I'm alive" and if he gets a quizzical look he continues "Two more inches and I don't know where I'd be."

A very special Thank You to all who have helped in any way.. it is very much appreciated!

Gay Marine Sgt. Brandon Morgan on a Welcome-Home Kiss That Went Viral

Sgt. Brandon Morgan tells Matthew DeLuca about meeting partner Dalan Wells, how happy his Marine superiors are that he’s found love—and what went into the exuberant welcome-home kiss that’s become famous online.

When Marine Sgt. Brandon Morgan, 25, returned home to Hawaii on Feb. 22 from a deployment in Afghanistan, he found partner Dalan Wells, 38, waiting for him. When a friend snapped a photo of their welcome-home kiss and posted it online, it quickly went viral and has been viewed tens of thousands of times on blogs and Facebook. It has been interpreted as a sign of a more open military in the wake of the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Sergeant Morgan tells Matthew DeLuca how the photo came to be.

I’m originally from Oakdale, Calif. I joined the Marine Corps on April 1, 2007. I joined the Marine Corps because I had to do something different with my life. I was working a little grocery-store job as a deli clerk, not really doing anything, not really going anywhere.

I used to be a very, very fanatical Christian, not that there’s anything wrong with being a Christian, but my beliefs, my core beliefs, definitely have changed as I’ve grown up because of the way I live, the way I am. I joined the Marine Corps because I felt I wanted to be the voice of God in the Marine Corps.

I’m pretty sure people very close to me like my mother, my father, and my sister always knew that there was something different about me. I was always at the church, and had those values, had that idea that homosexuality was wrong according to the Christian faith.

Eventually, nature comes out.

I was married at one point to a woman, but that was a huge mistake, because looking through my faith beliefs I mistook a friendship and thought it was love, which it wasn’t. It took so many mistakes in my life to have the courage to know who I was.

Dalan works on the base and we actually met at the Single Marine and Sailor Program. I walked in and I saw him, and I have to say it was love at first sight. I’ve loved that man ever since I first saw him.

Weeks just flew by and I couldn’t wait to get home, and I was like, “When I get home, I’m going to give him the best kiss I can think of.”

Dalan and I have known each other for four years, and we’ve been really good friends. He helped me through the divorce. As time went on and we were ramping up to deploy, I asked him out, as I knew who I was but couldn’t come out under the DOD policy [“don’t ask, don’t tell”].

He said no because there is a significant age difference.

Going through the deployment and having nobody to look forward to coming home to, I emailed some friends and they were like, “Yeah, sure, we’ll come see you at the airport.” At one point I just made a general comment on Facebook like, “Wow, loneliness is really starting to sink in.” And he was the first one and the only one to comment on that.

When he said that, I wrote him a very, very long email. He wrote me back, and then it was what seemed like hundreds of emails a day. Every email he sent me I would read a hundred times. Weeks just flew by and I couldn’t wait to get home, and I was like, “When I get home, I’m going to give him the best kiss I can think of.”

All my superiors are happy for me that I finally have a love, someone to be with, that I’m not always hanging out at the single Marine center on the weekend. I believe that the general consensus was that the military didn’t want this, but the people who say that can’t really speak on the behalf of my Marines. My Marines, my family, have welcomed me, they’ve been very happy for me. We’re a family. They care for me the way they always have.

I was a little worried, to be honest. I was afraid that some people’s views of me might change. But that was just my own personal misgiving, a fear I had to overcome. I should have had more faith in my Marines than that. I’m not always right, and I was very glad I was wrong about that.

Dalan and I don’t mind sharing our story if it helps people. As a Marine, I have to say first and foremost that if I had to keep this a secret, I would, but our dedication to each other would not change. My story is no different from a lot of people’s. All I can say, if I could say one thing, is don’t be afraid to be who you are.

Joshhy ... day 7

I've spent the last week with Joshhy. After he was released from the hospital and his parents went back home, he had to begin to face the realities of what had happened to him, and begin to deal with what was happening to him. Being shot and beaten and spending almost 4 days in the hospital is enough trauma for anyone. Getting out and realizing that his problems were just beginning has almost pushed him over the edge.

His car was stolen and eventually recovered, to be put in an impound lot on the other side of town. The police needed to use it for evidence and the lot decided that they wanted to be paid for storing it. $85/day plus towing. Not covered by insurance.

His insurance only covers emergency care and one follow-up visit for any doctors.
Each additional visit runs from $140 - $300 + supplies and meds.

He still has a nickel sized hole thru his arm (bone, nerves and tendons involved) and has not had the surgeries to repair that. In the mean time he is on anti-bacteria meds and pain pills. He is still in a lot of pain and can not use his right arm at all. Being a right hander it makes it very difficult to do even the basic things of life. While he tries to be positive he is constantly frustrated and easily gets depressed.

He is extremely thankful to the people who have helped him and specially Joey, who has stood beside him literally since Friday. Very few friends would be there as staunchly as he has. Between he and I, Joshhy was never left alone at the hospital nor here at home. One of us was always there every time he woke up screaming either from pain or the nightmares he lives with.

One of his previous employers had set up a web site for him which was removed by a jealous former friend of his and a friend of mine has done a very nice blog entry and is running a give-a-way to a donor ( scroll to the Feb 14th post). Thanks to both for their support and caring.

Joshhy February 12^th 2012 

On February 9^th 2012 Joshhy was shot in his right wrist and brutally beaten with a 45 caliber pistol, and rushed to the ER by a good Samaritan.  At the hospital he was told he would need at least 3 surgeries to repair his wrist and regain full movement of the wrist and hand.  He will almost defiantly be deaf in his left ear for the rest of his life and may not regain full use of his right hand.  He has suffered bruises and swelling throughout his body.  To this day he has not been able to have a full night’s sleep due to stress, anxiety, and nightmares.
Insurance isn’t covering everything if you would like to donate please click below to donate.

Thanks and Hugz
Joshhy

Diego Duran

On New Years Eve, 12 year old Diego Duran was playing on his skateboard on the ramp he and his father had just built.  Moments later he was laying on the ground bleeding from his head.  He had been hit in the head by a "falling bullet." That is what happens when you fire a gun into the air to celebrate something and don't think about the repercussions.  The old law of Physics applies ..."What goes up, Must come down."

Diego spent almost a month in the hospital, over a week in a coma, and has had several surgeries. As of the last I've heard the bullet is still logged in his head.

Diego's family is not wealthy nor do they live in a big house.  Luckily they have some insurance but it is never enough.  They are very appreciative of any assistance that can be offered.

Diego went from this...

To this in moments....

He is now out of the hospital but may need more surgery and always needs the prayers and help of the community.  

The family and friends have set up a Face Book page Friends of Diego Duran  

REMEMBER, IF YOU FIRE A GUN ... IT CAN END UP LIKE THIS! 

The irresponsible person who did this has NOT been caught YET.. but eventually they will.  

This is a bit long but it is a great look at the city where I grew up... the weird looking Ball with the letters CB under it is a city landmark. It is the Citizens bank Weather ball. It can be seen from all over the city and it lights up with a color to correspond to tomorrows weather, and will be solid if clear and blinking if precipitation. I grew up a few blocks from the StJohn Vianney church and school that are shown.. I also went there and was there when that huge church was built. Watching this brings back tons of memories .. some great and a few not so great but seeing my old schools, the College I attended and some of the neighborhoods that have survived the problems has been fantastic. Thanks to the producers of this.