Proud and Union

"I would really be honored if I could walk in the Michigan Pride parade...underneath the UAW banner."

This past Tuesday, the 9th, was my one year anniversary at my job. I have now worked for the American Auto Industry for a year and been a member of the UAW for the same amount of time.

For about a week I have been thinking about it all. About how much pride I have in being a part of unionized labor, even though labor unions are weak anymore. About how much pride I have in myself for overcoming some fairly major obstacles in my life. About how happy I should feel for still having a job in Michigan during this economy.

On top of this new found pride I have hit a new stride it would seem with my personal life as a gay man. I am sooo passed the random hooks ups phase. I am past the phase of assuming every guy I meet is the one. I have found the stage where I am able to go on a date, get to know that person, and address everything in a slower and more reasoned way. I still want to find Mr. Right but I am willing to go slowly and do things the right way to set myself up for a successful long term relationship.

In all these ways my life is changing and I really feel like there should be a moment to really usher in these changes. In that way I would really be honored if I could walk in the Michigan Pride parade, which is the Gay and Lesbian pride parade that takes place in Lansing Michigan, underneath the UAW banner. I can't be the only gay member of the UAW after all, and would honestly mean a lot to see the GLBT members of the UAW walking behind a UAW banner that would say "GLBT, UAW, and Proud" then rework the UAW logo so that five of the people in the circle of people holding hands are colored to resemble the pride rainbow.

Lets make this happen. I would love to be a part of this.

Being a single gay man in west michigan sucks

I was cleaning, all the week of Christmas, and I found this old paper that I got from a seminar I went to ages ago. This speaks very well to my situation. I have been looking for a boyfriend, or just people that are interested in getting to know me and see what happens. All I can say about it is that the west Michigan area really sucks for finding a date if you are a gay man at least.

I was talking to a guy on gay.com just a few minutes ago and I was really liking the conversation, cause it wasn't about cock size, how I like it, and what my stats are. It was a great conversation that ranged from how his uncle is a drag queen, which I actually have meet several times before, to his dads moonshine collection, to how much we both hate that thug attitude a lot of the younger guys have. Then he said something about his boyfriend.

Damn It!!!!


Anyway, about the paper I found.

Eleven tips for finding a partner

1. Take a look at all the people you already know. Your future love might be sitting right next to you.

2. Join activities that interest you to increase the chance you will meet other with shared interests. Even if you don't meet someone at least you are enjoying yourself.

3. Let your friends know you are looking.

4. Expand your pool of people.

5. Consider personal ads. (This blog post could be considered one big personal ad.)

6. Pursue people you are interested in. (The paper doesn't say this but if you are the one being pursued be nice and gracious if the answer is no, there is no reason to be offending about it.)

7. Let go if the one you pursue says no.

8. Don't turn every date in to a "Will This Be The One" assessment.

9. Don't look for love in places where you are more likely to find sex. (Nobody ever said, "I Do" in a bath house as far as I know.)

The last two apply especially to same sex partners.

10. Be out.

11. Have visible GLBT symbols in your life. (Yeah your out of the closet but how does anyone know you are gay. Contrary to some peoples beliefs we look like everyone else.)

Wish me, you, and all the rest of them luck.