Pretty much a libertarian on how people act out their sexuality, I would normally have little to say about this past weekend’s Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. The fair, billed as “the grand daddy of all leather events” takes place every year in San Francisco and features scantily clad and fully nude men as well as public displays of sexuality, particularly the S & M variant. It even features a man “masturbating in public.”

Leather and S & M aren’t my thing, but if that’s how guys (& gals) want to express their sexuality, well, that’s their choice.

It’s one thing, however, for adults to express their sexuality as they see fit, it’s quite another to bring children, particularly toddlers into such displays. Yesterday, Michelle Malkin reported that one gay couple brought their twin two-year-old daughters to the event clad in a “a leather-studded harness.” This couple even decked the toddlers in “black leather collars purchased from a pet store.”

I agree with those there who “said children should not be allowed inside.”

If gay leaders are serious about promoting adoption in our community, they then should join me and those fairgoers who believe it is “inappropriate to have children at the event.” By taking a stand against this behavior, they will make it clear that they understand the responsibilities which inhere in raising children.

They will also make it clear that not all gay people support the sexual license so prevalent in the gay (particularly the gay male world). Such public opposition would help Americans recognize that we see our sexuality as more than mere physical gratification, but as a force which can serve as the foundation for strong families.

Gay leaders should not mince their words in criticizing parents who bring children to such gatherings as the Folsom Street Fair. Let those who adults who wish to attend do so and express themselves as they see fit. But, let’s also understand the distinction between that freedom of sexual expression and the responsibilities of parenting.

If we gay people believe ourselves worthy of the privileges of marriage and adoption, we need to show publicly that we recognize such distinctions. It is inappropriate for children to attend a sexually-themed celebration.

I hope that gay leaders will join me in criticizing the fair for allowing children to attend and demanding that, at future celebrations, it limit attendance to those over 18.

- B. Daniel Blatt (GayPatriotWest@aol.com)

Earlier today as I was going through my accumulated mail, I set aside a letter I would normally discard. You see, I received an invitation to subscribe to the Limbaugh Letter. While I frequently enjoy Rush’s show, I’m not really a fan so didn’t really see need to receive his thoughts monthly in my mail box.

But, considering the latest left-wing smear against this conservative talk show host, I decided to subscribe to show my support (not that he really needs it) for this man who has never minced words in taking on the left, criticizing liberals who might otherwise go unchallenged in the mainstream media.

While Media Matters claims that Limbaugh “selectively edited” the “phony soldiers” transcript, that left-wing website fails to mention its own selectivity, not including any reference to Rush’s comments specifying what he meant by such soldiers. Noel Sheppard of NewsBusters finds that Media Matters cherry-picked and misrepresented Limbaugh’s statements. Not only that, he noted (as did I in my up-update to Bruce’s post) that the conservative talk show host was “basically reiterating what ABC’s Brian Ross and Charles Gibson reported last Monday evening just two days before Rush made his statements” (H/t Instapundit).

So, if Media Matters is going to go after Rush, well, then I’m just going to show my support by doing something I would not otherwise have done, supporting this conservative by subscribing to his newsletter. I encourage GayPatriot readers to do the same.

If, after you have had to wake early for several days running, including on Sunday morning and you find time to sleep late during the week, make sure to turn off the alarm on your digital watches before bed.

Wow…. I had completely forgotten about the made-up war record of United States Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

I guess Rush’s comment about Jesse Macbeth struck a little too close to home for Senator Harkin as he knows what it is like to be a Phony Soldier.   Or maybe Harkin was just high on drugs when he took to the floor of the Senate yesterday….. or maybe he was high on drugs each time he flowered-up his resume when he was a Vietnam era vet (Harkin’s words).

-Bruce (GayPatriot)