Dems Debate Gay issues and Off to Jamaica

All the presidential candidates, democratic and republican, were invited by Logo TV to a Presidential forum focusing on issues related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. Not one of the republicans chose to participate, and all of the democrats except for Joe Biden and Chris Dodd were there. Those two had scheduling conflicts.

For those of us who do not get Logo TV, which includes all of us who have Brighthouse, you can view the candidates and their responses at Visible vote 08 where you will find links to various segments of the forum.

My vote is not going to hinge on what was said at that forum. Gay issues are important, but so is getting us out of Iraq, addressing immigration issues and accepting and doing something about climate change. So is accepting and promoting scientific research, some thing the Bush administration tinkers with to make science not really scientific...if that makes sense. And what about restoring our constitutional rights that have been trampled on during the last few years. If a candidate will address all these things, and it will have to be a democrat that does it, then I will be happy, because they are all gay friendly enough that they believe in workplace protections, civil unions, hate crimes, repealing dont ask dont tell and other GLBT issues.

I'm still not saying who I am supporting becuase I haven't decided yet. I've seen a couple of the candidates and one of the candidate's husbands (guess who that is) in person in recent months, and they all breaths of fresh air as opposed to the unfair and imbalanced reporting we often hear on tv.

Enough already. I leave for Jamaica in 21 hours. The trip is part of a course I am taking, and we are to keep a journal as part of the assignment. I am pretty sure I will be able to post some of my journal online, and if I can, that is what you will be reading next week.

The UAB students are teaming with students from San Diego State University and The University of the West Indies and Mona, Jamaica, and the trip is sponsored by the Sparkman Center for Global Health at UAB (and by a hefty fee paid by the students). The Jamaican Ministry of Health is also contributing.

We are focusing on community based approaches to public health, and will have three primary areas of study...mosquito surveillance, STD/HIV care and prevention, and water and sanitation.

We are staying in dorms on the University campus, but I am not sure what to expect, because on the "I wish I had packed..." list in our materials are "extra toilet paper, a small desk fan (I was told the rooms do not have air conditioning), and an 'electric water pot' if you want coffee in your room." The Hilton this is not. But hey...it's Jamaica!!!

If you are at all interested in health issues in Jamaica, here is their Ministry of Health web site.

Time to pack.