Family Divided: Daughter Identifies Herself as Transgender, Heartbreaking Experience of a Medical Mother [True Story
As a doctor, Yalan told her daughter that the gender of the human body is determined by genes and cannot be changed by surgery. "Born in the wrong body" is a great lie. Pictured here is an anti-transgender rally on January 21, 2023 in suburban San Diego County, California.
[Epoch Times, August 11, 2023] (Interviewed by Mingzhu Xue, Epoch Times correspondent in San Francisco, and co-reported by Yifan Yi, features reporter) Chinese immigrant Yalan's daughter, who believes she is male, was not allowed to tell her parents by her school, and has been hiding it for a long time for her. Yalan could never have imagined that such a thing would come to her family. In a recent interview with Epoch Times, Yalan recounted the excruciating pain she experienced.
Yalan is a doctor who immigrated to the United States from China with her husband in the early years. The couple, both Christians, live in the middle of the country and have three children - two sons and a daughter.
The youngest daughter, Mei Hui, was born in the United States in 2004 and is 19 years old. In Yalan's mind, Mei Hui is a very good child, "Her math class progresses about two years faster than other children, she is very hard working, self-disciplined, kind, a very good child. We never worry about anything going wrong with her."
However, Mie suddenly told her parents when she was about to turn 18 that she was transgender and would have to change her sex when she turned 18. Yalan and her husband were dumbfounded, "What a bolt from the blue!" They never knew that their daughter self-identified as transgender.
Later Mie told her parents that when she entered puberty at the age of 12 or 13, her body underwent some changes and she felt uncomfortable. It happened to be a time when her school teacher talked about things like transgenderism and LGBT (the acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). Mie had questions at the time about whether or not she had this problem as well.
Yalan noticed that Mie didn't talk to her parents much after she started high school. But the couple didn't take it too personally; they thought it was because the child was entering puberty and distancing herself from her parents. Yalan didn't understand until later: when Mei Hui told a teacher at school about her self-identification as transgender, the teacher told her not to tell her parents, "Your parents are Christians, if you tell them, they will not want you, what will you do then?" "You don't tell them, we'll keep it a secret for you."
When she was 16 years old, she publicly admitted that she was a male at school, changed her name, and was called by her teachers and classmates by her new name. Mie originally thought that after coming out (LGBT people refer to the act of disclosing one's gender identity as "coming out") the pressure was released and she would feel better. But her mood didn't get better, it got worse.
Mr. and Mrs. Yalan still didn't know it, but they noticed that Mei Hui began to suffer from severe insomnia and emotional instability, sometimes even cutting herself with a knife. In fact, Mei-Huei was struggling internally because of her sex change, and she dared not communicate normally with her parents. Yalan said, "Because all the people told her not to tell us."
After Yalan sensed her daughter's condition, she began to try to communicate with her, but didn't figure out what was going on with her daughter. Every time Yalan called the school and asked the counselor how the child was doing and if she had observed any problems, the school teacher said, "It's fine, it's fine, she's very good."
Mei Hui's older brother, sister-in-law, and second brother, knew about Mei Hui a long time ago, but they had all been brainwashed by the school, and they all cautioned Mei Hui not to talk to her parents about it. Mei Hui's pediatrician not only hid it for her, but also took the initiative to call the transgender clinic to make an appointment for Mei Hui.
"She even changed her name at school, so her teachers know about her condition, her classmates know about it, maybe their parents know about it, and the community knows about it," says Yalan. Yalan said, "Only my husband and I didn't know."
Yalan said, "Those teachers at the school are horrible, they are the ones who put my child in this situation and turned my child against his parents."
Informed when it was too late
After being kept in the dark for several years, it was in Mie's last year of high school that Yalan first learned the truth about Mie.
In October 2021, Mie was in her fourth year of high school (12th grade) and had a little over half a year to go before she graduated. The school had parent-teacher conferences for the first month of school, and it was only when Mie was worried that her mother's teacher would accidentally slip up when she arrived at school that she told her parents she was transgender and gave her male name.
Although Yalan and Mr. were very shocked, they tried to keep their emotions in check. They asked Mie what her plans were. Mie said that she was going to get a sex change when she turned 18. At that time, there were only 2 months left before she turned 18, and according to the law in the United States, at the age of 18, she was an adult and could do everything on her own. Yalan and her husband were completely confused.
As a doctor, Yalan told her daughter that the human body's gender is determined by genes and cannot be changed by surgery or any other means. This so-called transgender care is very harmful to a healthy human body. A doctor's duty should be to save lives, but nowadays doctors are mutilating the healthy bodies of teenagers with drugs and surgeries, which is absolutely unethical behavior and the wrong thing to do.
But Mi-Huei doesn't listen at all, and she believes that she was born in the wrong body. Yalan said that her body had been healthy since she was a child and that there was nothing wrong with it, and that it was her mind that was the problem. Mie then said, "My mind is like that, so I'm going to change my body."
Yalan had no way to convince her daughter. "We came from mainland China and have experienced a lot, but it was never expected that something like this would happen to our family."
"It feels like taking on the world."
To help her daughter from being transgender, Yalan sought help everywhere, but found it much harder.
"All the people pushing for her to be transgender, all the people supporting her to be transgender," she said. Yalan said, "We looked everywhere for help, the church, friends around us, and we couldn't find any help. No one helped us, everyone was supportive of being transgender, and all the parents of the kids we grew up with were silent." One parent even came to them and said, "Your child can do whatever she wants, she's happy, you should support her.
Yalan and her husband tried hard to find an honest counselor to counsel their daughter to see if she had any mental illnesses, but they couldn't find any. Yalan said that the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association all support and affirm transgenderism. "All the medical associations are like this, as long as you say you have gender anxiety, these organizations are affirming your gender identity, pushing you hard, forcing you to take medication and undergo surgery to change your sex," she said.
Yalan said that not only are the medical and education sectors infiltrated and gagged, but even the whole society is controlled on the issue of transgenderism, even the churches are no exception. Many churches now have rainbow flags (flags symbolizing the LGBT community) hanging in front of their doors. Yalan has tried to seek help from the church, but in the few churches near her home, no one dares to speak about it, and even the pastor is silent.
"My husband and I felt like we were up against the world, with no power at all. There is pressure from all sides, and all the people are against you. We were desperate."
"We were left on our own in the dark with no one to talk to." The baby would have turned 18 in two months, but I couldn't do anything, there was nothing I could do," Yalan said. All the people were pushing her (to change her sex), and she had grown so big that I couldn't force her. There was really nothing we could do but ask God."
After Mi-Huei confessed to her parents, her mental condition worsened, and her insomnia at night became worse, so that she could not go to school for many days. Because she missed so many classes, Mie almost didn't graduate. In May 2022, Mie left home after graduating from high school.
Yalan and her husband used to be proud of their family. "My husband and I were most proud of our family, and all of our efforts were for this family. We really love our children and really do the best we can to give them the best environment possible." Yalan said, "But our family is completely divided by this incident."
"America is going through a 'Cultural Revolution'."
Yalan deplores the fact that even though Mei Hui suffered from severe mental distress, she excelled in all her classes until her third year of high school, earning A's in every subject, and that such an outstanding child was persecuted to such an extent - not being able to rest, not being able to sleep, wanting to self-harm, committing suicide, and almost not being able to graduate, and her parents had no way of understanding her, so why is it that this is happening?
Yalan and her husband experienced the Cultural Revolution in China, and she believes that what is happening in the U.S. is very similar to the Cultural Revolution in China. "These kids are like the Red Guards, they want to destroy traditional culture, break up the family, and break with their parents, almost the same as the Cultural Revolution".
"LGBT has turned into a so-called belief for the children, just like communism, which on the surface seems to be pursuing equality, tolerance and progress, but in fact wants everyone to become LGBT," Yalan said.
Yalan believes that there is a force behind the transgender movement that seeks to gain power by promoting transgenderism, which it uses to control all of these people. This force destroys the most important foundations of society - family, ethics and morality. It's like the Cultural Revolution of the Communist Party of China, the so-called "breaking up the old and establishing the four new," which broke up all the traditional concepts, the family, and the order. These things are now happening in the United States.
"Who doesn't know that gender is male and female?" Yalan said, "Now to get all people to recognize that gender is not just male and female, but there are dozens of other kinds, which in itself is brainwashing, a political campaign to get all people to lie. It's scary, exactly like the Communists."
"The feeling my husband and I had was that we were up against the world and had no power at all. There's pressure on all sides, all the people are against you. We were desperate."
"There's going to be retribution, and all of us are going to have to pay a very heavy price for this."
After Mie confessed to her parents, her mental condition worsened and her insomnia at night became so severe that she was unable to attend school for many days. Because she missed so many classes, Mie almost didn't graduate. Yalan and her husband used to be proud of their family. "My husband and I are most proud of our family and all our efforts are for this family. We really love our children and really do the best we can to give them the best environment." Yalan said, "But our family is completely divided by this incident."
"America is going through a 'Cultural Revolution'."
Yalan deplores the fact that even though Mei Hui suffered from severe mental distress, she excelled in all her classes until her third year of high school, earning A's in every subject, and that such an outstanding child was persecuted to such an extent - not being able to rest, not being able to sleep, wanting to self-harm, committing suicide, and almost not being able to graduate, and her parents had no way of understanding her, so why is it that this is happening?
Yalan and her husband experienced the Cultural Revolution in China, and she believes that what is happening in the U.S. is very similar to the Cultural Revolution in China....
What is "the beauty of being an adult"? The original meaning is to fulfill the good deeds of others, but we extend it to "understanding and respecting the approval of others".
This year is the first year of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance calls for friends who care about the gay community, such as elderly long term photos, destigmatization of AIDS, sex education, workplace equality, marriage equality, barrier equality, legalization of sex work, aborigines and new aborigines, transition justice, and other related communities.
Last year, we talked about the ubiquitous fake friendliness, and this year we are going to talk about the fake friendly sex equality education; everyone has room to learn more about gender equality, and teenagers are the main subject of sex equality education in schools, so that they can know their own desires and understand the various kinds of sexual relationships that really exist in the society, so that teenagers can start to learn gender equality education with themselves as the main subject.
'Maestro': Kylie Mulligan and Bradley Cooper shine in this movie about Leonard Bernstein
If you're not careful, you're going to be a lonely old queen, Kylie Mulligan angrily tells Bradley Cooper, before a giant inflatable Snoopy passes by the window. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade waits for no one!
It's just one of those wacky, laugh-out-loud moments about iconic American conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein that subverts boring biopic clichés. As it turns out, a parade provides a fitting backdrop for a heated argument between a man and his long-suffering wife, in which she not only lashes out, but stops her husband's lifelong parade of glass-case heterosexuals.
The word "parade" could also be used to describe Cooper's Highland Camp comics. The belief that the Libras' hustle fulfills the toxic needs of .... Lydia Towers? It's a show, a performance, and therefore justifiably over-the-top, and all the funnier for it. While most actors are careful to play only different versions of themselves, Kubelnik perseveres and dares to be different.
That being said, the character's appearance is definitely weird and needs to be cut down. In fact, any movie with a dramatically aging cast is on thin ice, and this is no exception. In the end, Bernstein becomes an over-haired Barry Manilow. The onus, of course, falls on director Cooper.
The fake nose that prompted the "Jew face" accusation in August distracts from Bernstein, giving him a quirky look that's accentuated by Cooper's sharp eyes and perfect teeth, reminiscent of a real housewife. Later, as the film switches from black-and-white to the vibrant colors of the Wizard of Oz, Bernstein's permanent tan is revealed. I jumped out of my seat. To be fair, it was probably a moment meant to surprise and entertain.
"Kylie Morrigan has a real dignity as the older Felicia - she always possessed an ancient soul energy, even when educated."
Fortunately, the ever-sober Mulligan balances out Cooper's excesses. She plays Leonard's wife, actress Felicia Montealegre. Her attire alone makes the two-hour, nine-minute run worthwhile. Though Mulligan doesn't contrast sharply with Cooper's enormity, and does let go in places. The giggling chatterboxes enjoy fizzy chemistry together.
She also has the genuine gravitas of an older Montealegre - she always has that old soul energy, even when educated - and delivers a first-rate performance in the film's final 15 minutes. Here, the maestro awkwardly changes his tone as he quickly recounts Felicia's cancer journey. A better ending might have been the last majestic musical moment, when all the symbols collapse, with the violinist banging his head and a vibrant, almost suspended Cooper on Mulligan's chiffon.
"For all the over-concern about his marriage, his cool guy character is developed through scenes rich in dialogue with Felecia."
Maestro Meanwhile, Bernstein's attitude toward the open secret of sexual orientation is mixed. It is certainly not avoided. In fact, despite the legal challenges of the day, it's handled with a delightful lightness of touch in places. Once, for example, Bernstein cooed at a newborn - his face was so horrible, you were ready to make the baby cry - and then said, "Can I tell you a secret? I slept with both your parents!"
Elsewhere, to celebrate the phone call that launched his career, he plays a tambourine on his lover's ass. (This scene incredibly carries over into one of the many over-the-top orchestral sequences.) But when Matt Bomer plays said lover, you're forgiven for comparing the Maestro to the sexy travelers who make headlines. This is not that. Here, Matt's role is insignificant. Frustratingly, Bernstein's relationship with men is rarely sketched out. In short, it should be even stranger.
It's a shame because there's so much more to explore, including the core question of how Bernstein sees himself. Some sites call him bisexual. Others cited his West Side Story coauthor Arthur Laurents as calling him a "married homosexual man". He is not at all ambivalent about this.
Despite all the attention paid to his marriage, his cool character is revealed through rich scenes of dialogue with Felicia, who is more friend than lover. Does his extramarital sex, her acceptance of it, and her continuing love suggest a relationship of sexual fluidity and openness far removed from modern concepts? Millions of Netflix viewers will soon be considering these questions, and it's worthwhile.
3.5/5
The Master is available on Netflix on December 20th.
Gay Pastor Expresses Shock at Pope's Remarks on LGBTQ Community and Calls for Deeper Dialogue
The acceptance of the LGBTQ community is growing in today's society, but when this progress meets with traditional concepts in the religious realm, it creates a series of contradictions and challenges. Recently, an openly gay priest expressed shock and sadness at the offensive language used by Pope Francis in a discussion with Italian bishops. The incident has not only attracted widespread attention, but has also rekindled the debate on the relationship between religion and sexual minorities.
During the discussion, Pope Francis reportedly mentioned that "there are too many Frochaginis in the seminary," a highly controversial statement. The use of the word "Frochagini," which has a distinctly pejorative connotation in Italian and is used specifically to refer to male homosexuals, is undoubtedly offensive and discriminatory. In response, the Vatican responded that the Pope was aware of the reports, but emphasized that the Pope never intended to use homophobic language to express himself and apologized to those who felt offended by it.
The priest said that while he welcomed the Pope's apology, the incident undoubtedly did serious damage to the Pope's unprecedented openness to members of the LGBTQ community. He emphasized that to understand the seriousness of the Pope's use of defamation, it is important to distinguish between the intent and impact of his words. While some have tried to downplay the incident as an unfortunate choice of words or linguistic impropriety, there is no doubt that the use of such language is dehumanizing and has caused serious human questioning and harm to sexual minorities.
In addition, the priest pointed out that the Vatican's policy on whether openly gay men should be admitted to the seminaries ignores the reality that there are many gay priests and bishops who faithfully and generously serve the Church. From his own experience of more than 40 years in the priesthood, sexual orientation is not an issue that determines the effectiveness of ministry, nor should it be the sole reason for banning men from the seminary.
Finally, the priest raises a profound question: Are gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, and coolies really considered fully equal members of the Church? He argued that Pope Francis' remarks and the policies behind them show that significant limitations and conditions still exist on the Church's acceptance of sexual minorities.
In the face of this controversy, the pastor called on the Pope to listen directly to homosexual priests with an open heart and to truly recognize them as part of the Church. It is only through deep dialog and listening that the Church can truly become a place of welcome for all.
Pope Francis apologizes for using derogatory term about gay priests
Vatican City (AP) - In a recent statement, Pope Francis apologized to the public for using disrespectful words about homosexuality, an act that has reignited widespread debate about the Catholic Church's stance on gay priests. The incident highlights the tension between official Church teaching, which prohibits gay men from entering seminaries and becoming priests, and the reality that many clergy are known to be gay and many LGBTQ+ Catholics want to participate fully in the life and sacraments of the Church.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that Francis's remarks attracted widespread media attention after he addressed the Italian bishops in a closed-door meeting on May 20th. The controversy ensued after Francis reportedly used the derogatory Italian word "faggot" to describe homosexuality during the meeting.
In a statement, Bruni said Pope Francis never intended to express himself in homophobic terms and apologized to those who felt hurt by his comments. However, the concern raised by this incident goes beyond the specific words used by the Pope and touches on the Church's overall stance on homosexual clergy.
Natalia Pepetoli Lee, chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Manhattan College, points out that the Church's insistence on banning gay men from serving as priests ignores the fact that many talented, celibate gay priests are already serving in the Church. She argues that the LGBTQ+ community often seems to be a casual target of the Vatican, including the Pope.
Francis has been known in the past for his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, including his famous "Who am I to judge" comment and his call for an end to anti-gay legislation. However, his occasional comments have still caused resentment within the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters.
For organizations supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics, Francis' apology is a positive step, but they continue to question the Pope's fundamental position and blanket ban on homosexual clergy. They called for a deeper discussion, drawing on people's own experiences to deepen understanding of LGBT issues.
This incident once again highlights the challenges the Catholic Church faces in embracing LGBTQ+ believers and the tensions between the Church and the values of modern society. As society continues to evolve, how the Catholic Church adjusts its stance to be more inclusive and accepting of all believers will be an ongoing topic of discussion.
Drew Barrymore Has Been Wanting to Make a 'Wizard of Oz' Sequel for 28 Years
Drew Barrymore's Longtime Love Affair with the Wizard of Oz Sequel
Since its premiere in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has been one of the most beloved and influential films in Hollywood history. Its magic, music, and immortal characters have been ingrained in the hearts of countless audiences and have inspired all manner of prequels, sequels, and reinterpretations. However, Drew Barrymore's love for this classic tale, and her continuing desire to produce a sequel, may be the most unique and enduring.
In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Drew Barrymore, an accomplished actress and producer, revealed that she has spent the last 28 years trying to make a sequel to The Wizard of Oz called Surrender Dorothy. This news is undoubtedly an exciting surprise for fans of The Wizard of Oz, as it reveals a possible new chapter that will be told by someone who loves the story dearly.
According to Drew, Surrender Dorothy was one of the first scripts she developed when she founded her production company, Flower Films, in 1995. Her love for the story is so deep that she describes it as very personal to her. The film's storyline involves the Wicked Witch of the West who survives being melted by water and flees to modern-day New York in search of ruby slippers. These slippers are now owned by Drew's Dorothy, the great-granddaughter of the great Dorothy.
It's worth noting that this sequel will be a direct continuation of the original movie, as it involves the ruby slippers - an element that only appeared in the 1939 film, not in L. Frank Baum's original Oz books. This detail demonstrates Drew's commitment to maintaining story continuity and honoring the original.
Even though Surrender Dorothy was never produced, Drew's dream of bringing the story to the big screen never went away. She says that as a director, she would give anything to realize that dream. This determination and deep love for the story will no doubt make this potential sequel a highly anticipated project.
Now, with Drew Barrymore once again expressing her desire to make a sequel to The Wizard of Oz, we can't help but ask: Are audiences ready to take the Yellow Brick Road once again and discover a whole new story of Oz? Are you interested in seeing the Wicked Witch of the West try to reclaim her ruby slippers? Feel free to share your thoughts and expectations in the comments!
Blade Runner 3 Welcomes Josh O'Connor, Andrew Scott, and Carly Spaeny to Netflix in 2025
Ready for more suspense and surprises? With a brand new cast and story coming to Blade Runner 3, let's take a look at what's in store for the long-awaited sequel!
Since the release of the first movie in 2019, the Blade Runner series has won over audiences with its unique style and compelling plot. Continuing the series, the third movie, Dead Man Waking, will once again star Daniel Craig as our favorite Southern gay detective, Benoit Blank, and welcome Josh O'Connor, Andrew Scott, and Carly Spaeny to the family.
### New stars join the fun!
Josh O'Connor is best known for his performance in God's Own Country, and he's next up to show off his talents in Blade Runner 3. Carly Spaeny, fresh from her role as Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola's 'Priscilla', will no doubt add more color to the film. As for Andrew Scott, he's best known for his role as a pastor in Fleabag and has been getting a lot of attention for his recent performance in the Netflix series Ripley.
### A Star-Studded Legacy
The Ripley's series is known for its star-studded cast. From Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis to Ana de Armas, each cast member adds their own unique charisma to the movie. The sequel, The Glass Onion: The Mystery of the Sheathed Blade, continues this tradition with new faces such as Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson and Kathryn Hahn. Now, with Dead Man Waking coming to theaters soon, we're looking forward to seeing even more new stars.
###...
Pedro Pascal to Participate in Omar Apollo's Upcoming Album 'God Says No'
Crossover collaborations are nothing new in today's music and movie industry. However, the announcement that celebrated actor Pedro Pascal will be featured on Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Omar Apollo's upcoming album, God Said No, is still exciting. This is not only a cross-border collaboration between the music and movie worlds, but also a cultural and linguistic exchange.
Pedro Pascal, best known for his performance in The Last of Us, will appear in a new capacity on Omar Apollo's album. The actor and all-around legend will be featured on the album, which even has a song titled "Pedro." It's not clear if Pascal will be directly featured on the song, but the collaboration certainly raises a lot of expectations.
Pascal said that Omar is a very good friend of his and that he loves his music. Both were raised bilingual, which makes for a deeper cultural and linguistic connection. It has been very rewarding for Pascal to be a friend of Omar's on his creative journey and to support each other as friends, artists, Latinos and Spanish speakers.
Omar Apollo's new album, God Says No, will be released on June 28th. The album reflects the last two years of his life and he is excited to share this experience through music. The album includes not only Pedro Pascal, but also Mustafa, a Sudanese-Canadian poet and singer, showing that this is a multicultural gathering.
Omar explains that the album's title, God Says No, is a play on the Spanish phrase "Lo que será, será" (Will be, will be). The phrase was said to him by a friend when he was going through a breakup, making the album not just a collection of songs, but a narrative sequence to be listened to from start to finish.
Over the past year, Apollo has become a topic of conversation for his humorous responses to toxic comments surrounding celebrity kool-aid baiting. His candor and humor have garnered him an outpouring of support on social media, as well as increased attention for his music and personal brand.
As the release date of God Said No approaches, fans are no doubt excited to hear what Pedro Pascal has in store for the album. This cross-border collaboration is not only a musical innovation, but also a beautiful demonstration of cultural and linguistic exchange. Let's look forward to the release of this album and witness how these two artists cross the boundaries and create beautiful music together through their creations.
Joseph Tito's Struggle: The Journey From Jet Second-Teamer to Becoming a Father
Becoming a parent in today's society is a challenging and unexpected path for many people, especially for gay, single men like me. My story may offer a glimmer of hope and courage to those who have encountered obstacles in their quest to become parents.
Joseph Tito's book, From Jet Ski Users to Fathers, is not only a personal account of his journey to fatherhood, but also a reflection of current societal attitudes and laws regarding gay and lesbian parenthood. In the book, Tito shares his journey to fatherhood through surrogacy in Kenya and the challenges he encountered along the way.
Tito's story begins when he has almost completed all the preparations for the arrival of his new baby. However, just ten days before he was due to leave the hospital, he received a shocking email informing him that in order to take his baby out of the hospital, he would need to be accompanied by a female companion - and that companion would have to be his "wife". This was a huge blow to Tito, who had chosen Kenya precisely because it was supposed to be gay-parent and single-male friendly.
The request was not only unbelievable, but also deeply insulting. Tito had spent his entire life trying to be seen and accepted for who he really was, and now he was forced to hide his true identity just to be a father. The experience left him feeling angry and disappointed, and more importantly, deeply betrayed.
Faced with this situation, Tito feels desperate. If he doesn't go along with this ridiculous request, he won't get his child back. But he was absolutely unwilling to pay a stranger to play the role of his "wife". This puts him in a dilemma.
Tito's story epitomizes the reality faced by many gay and lesbian parents. In their quest to become parents, they face not only biological limitations, but also social and legal obstacles. But Tito's story also gives us hope that it is possible to find one's own path through perseverance and courage, even in the face of many obstacles.
In this story, we see the prejudice and injustice against gay and lesbian parents, as well as an individual's perseverance in love and family. Tito's experience reminds us that the road to parenthood is full of challenges, but love and perseverance can help us overcome them and find our own happiness.
I share this story not only to let more people understand the difficulties faced by gay and lesbian parents, but also to encourage those who encounter difficulties in their pursuit of parenthood not to give up hope and to persevere in their dreams. Because in the face of love, nothing is impossible.
Gay Pastor Expresses Shock at Pope's Remarks on LGBTQ Community and Calls for Deeper Dialogue
The acceptance of the LGBTQ community is growing in today's society, but when this progress meets with traditional concepts in the religious realm, it creates a series of contradictions and challenges. Recently, an openly gay priest expressed shock and sadness at the offensive language used by Pope Francis in a discussion with Italian bishops. The incident has not only attracted widespread attention, but has also rekindled the debate on the relationship between religion and sexual minorities.
During the discussion, Pope Francis reportedly mentioned that "there are too many Frochaginis in the seminary," a highly controversial statement. The use of the word "Frochagini," which has a distinctly pejorative connotation in Italian and is used specifically to refer to male homosexuals, is undoubtedly offensive and discriminatory. In response, the Vatican responded that the Pope was aware of the reports, but emphasized that the Pope never intended to use homophobic language to express himself and apologized to those who felt offended by it.
The priest said that while he welcomed the Pope's apology, the incident undoubtedly did serious damage to the Pope's unprecedented openness to members of the LGBTQ community. He emphasized that to understand the seriousness of the Pope's use of defamation, it is important to distinguish between the intent and impact of his words. While some have tried to downplay the incident as an unfortunate choice of words or linguistic impropriety, there is no doubt that the use of such language is dehumanizing and has caused serious human questioning and harm to sexual minorities.
In addition, the priest pointed out that the Vatican's policy on whether openly gay men should be admitted to the seminaries ignores the reality that there are many gay priests and bishops who faithfully and generously serve the Church. From his own experience of more than 40 years in the priesthood, sexual orientation is not an issue that determines the effectiveness of ministry, nor should it be the sole reason for banning men from the seminary.
Finally, the priest raises a profound question: Are gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, and coolies really considered fully equal members of the Church? He argued that Pope Francis' remarks and the policies behind them show that significant limitations and conditions still exist on the Church's acceptance of sexual minorities.
In the face of this controversy, the pastor called on the Pope to listen directly to homosexual priests with an open heart and to truly recognize them as part of the Church. It is only through deep dialog and listening that the Church can truly become a place of welcome for all.
'Maestro': Kylie Mulligan and Bradley Cooper shine in this movie about Leonard Bernstein
If you're not careful, you're going to be a lonely old queen, Kylie Mulligan angrily tells Bradley Cooper, before a giant inflatable Snoopy passes by the window. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade waits for no one!
It's just one of those wacky, laugh-out-loud moments about iconic American conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein that subverts boring biopic clichés. As it turns out, a parade provides a fitting backdrop for a heated argument between a man and his long-suffering wife, in which she not only lashes out, but stops her husband's lifelong parade of glass-case heterosexuals.
The word "parade" could also be used to describe Cooper's Highland Camp comics. The belief that the Libras' hustle fulfills the toxic needs of .... Lydia Towers? It's a show, a performance, and therefore justifiably over-the-top, and all the funnier for it. While most actors are careful to play only different versions of themselves, Kubelnik perseveres and dares to be different.
That being said, the character's appearance is definitely weird and needs to be cut down. In fact, any movie with a dramatically aging cast is on thin ice, and this is no exception. In the end, Bernstein becomes an over-haired Barry Manilow. The onus, of course, falls on director Cooper.
The fake nose that prompted the "Jew face" accusation in August distracts from Bernstein, giving him a quirky look that's accentuated by Cooper's sharp eyes and perfect teeth, reminiscent of a real housewife. Later, as the film switches from black-and-white to the vibrant colors of the Wizard of Oz, Bernstein's permanent tan is revealed. I jumped out of my seat. To be fair, it was probably a moment meant to surprise and entertain.
"Kylie Morrigan has a real dignity as the older Felicia - she always possessed an ancient soul energy, even when educated."
Fortunately, the ever-sober Mulligan balances out Cooper's excesses. She plays Leonard's wife, actress Felicia Montealegre. Her attire alone makes the two-hour, nine-minute run worthwhile. Though Mulligan doesn't contrast sharply with Cooper's enormity, and does let go in places. The giggling chatterboxes enjoy fizzy chemistry together.
She also has the genuine gravitas of an older Montealegre - she always has that old soul energy, even when educated - and delivers a first-rate performance in the film's final 15 minutes. Here, the maestro awkwardly changes his tone as he quickly recounts Felicia's cancer journey. A better ending might have been the last majestic musical moment, when all the symbols collapse, with the violinist banging his head and a vibrant, almost suspended Cooper on Mulligan's chiffon.
"For all the over-concern about his marriage, his cool guy character is developed through scenes rich in dialogue with Felecia."
Maestro Meanwhile, Bernstein's attitude toward the open secret of sexual orientation is mixed. It is certainly not avoided. In fact, despite the legal challenges of the day, it's handled with a delightful lightness of touch in places. Once, for example, Bernstein cooed at a newborn - his face was so horrible, you were ready to make the baby cry - and then said, "Can I tell you a secret? I slept with both your parents!"
Elsewhere, to celebrate the phone call that launched his career, he plays a tambourine on his lover's ass. (This scene incredibly carries over into one of the many over-the-top orchestral sequences.) But when Matt Bomer plays said lover, you're forgiven for comparing the Maestro to the sexy travelers who make headlines. This is not that. Here, Matt's role is insignificant. Frustratingly, Bernstein's relationship with men is rarely sketched out. In short, it should be even stranger.
It's a shame because there's so much more to explore, including the core question of how Bernstein sees himself. Some sites call him bisexual. Others cited his West Side Story coauthor Arthur Laurents as calling him a "married homosexual man". He is not at all ambivalent about this.
Despite all the attention paid to his marriage, his cool character is revealed through rich scenes of dialogue with Felicia, who is more friend than lover. Does his extramarital sex, her acceptance of it, and her continuing love suggest a relationship of sexual fluidity and openness far removed from modern concepts? Millions of Netflix viewers will soon be considering these questions, and it's worthwhile.
3.5/5
The Master is available on Netflix on December 20th.
Pope Francis apologizes for using derogatory term about gay priests
Vatican City (AP) - In a recent statement, Pope Francis apologized to the public for using disrespectful words about homosexuality, an act that has reignited widespread debate about the Catholic Church's stance on gay priests. The incident highlights the tension between official Church teaching, which prohibits gay men from entering seminaries and becoming priests, and the reality that many clergy are known to be gay and many LGBTQ+ Catholics want to participate fully in the life and sacraments of the Church.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that Francis's remarks attracted widespread media attention after he addressed the Italian bishops in a closed-door meeting on May 20th. The controversy ensued after Francis reportedly used the derogatory Italian word "faggot" to describe homosexuality during the meeting.
In a statement, Bruni said Pope Francis never intended to express himself in homophobic terms and apologized to those who felt hurt by his comments. However, the concern raised by this incident goes beyond the specific words used by the Pope and touches on the Church's overall stance on homosexual clergy.
Natalia Pepetoli Lee, chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Manhattan College, points out that the Church's insistence on banning gay men from serving as priests ignores the fact that many talented, celibate gay priests are already serving in the Church. She argues that the LGBTQ+ community often seems to be a casual target of the Vatican, including the Pope.
Francis has been known in the past for his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, including his famous "Who am I to judge" comment and his call for an end to anti-gay legislation. However, his occasional comments have still caused resentment within the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters.
For organizations supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics, Francis' apology is a positive step, but they continue to question the Pope's fundamental position and blanket ban on homosexual clergy. They called for a deeper discussion, drawing on people's own experiences to deepen understanding of LGBT issues.
This incident once again highlights the challenges the Catholic Church faces in embracing LGBTQ+ believers and the tensions between the Church and the values of modern society. As society continues to evolve, how the Catholic Church adjusts its stance to be more inclusive and accepting of all believers will be an ongoing topic of discussion.
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