At the office holiday potluck last week, my boss encouraged us to look at the joys of the Christmas season through the eyes of a child. He reminded us how beautiful things like a Christmas tree are to children, and hoped that we experience that sort of happiness this year. When he said this, I didn’t think much of it, and was looking forward to the end of the “party” so I could actually get out and party (why was there no eggnog at this potluck?).

Maybe I’m Scorpio rising and thus, outwardly careless and insensitive. Maybe I’m just a douche bag. I’d like to think I’m somewhere in the middle. At different times in my life, I have certainly found myself at both ends of the spectrum. But lately I have been called “caustic,” “vitriolic,” and have been compared to Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

And that’s just what my friends said about me. (Hey, with friends like these, who needs enemies?)

So let me take this opportunity to own what there is for me to own.

Despite our grief in a lagging federal government and the lack of support from our state governments, Americans in the LGBT community have it pretty good. Sure there are other places that offer more rights and freedoms, but how often do you stop and think about the places with far less rights and freedoms?

Kyrgyzstan is a country where it is still not ok to be gay, despite the fact that the government ended the law banning homosexuality over 10 years ago. In neighboring countries, such as Uzbekistan, being publicly gay still comes with the courtesy of jail time.

With the latest bout of ballot initiatives that have banned gay marriage- I am getting really tired of people who don’t know me judging my lifestyle (and taking my rights away). I also believe that turnabout is fair play. When it comes to judging someone, it's safe to say gay men have raised it to an art form. That’s why I am thinking it’s time we sharpen our skills.

I can't help but wonder, shouldn't we declare open season on passing judgments?

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