Celebrating National Coming Out Day *Book Giveaway*

Did you know today is National Coming Out Day and it's celebrating 22 years?

"NCOD is is an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. It is observed by members of the LGBT communities and their supporters (often referred to as "allies") on October 11 every year, or October 12 in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Robert Eichberg, a founder of The Experience workshop, and National Gay Rights Advocates head Jean O'Leary during a 1988 meeting of LGBT activists as a day to celebrate coming out."

And event like this is promoting tolerance and acceptance and is needed now more than ever, especially in light of the suicide of teens who are being bullied and ridiculed because of their sexual orientation.

When I see something like this from a HATEFUL, INTOLERANT BIGOT in power, it enrages me: From CNN New York gubernatorial candidate criticizes gays.

"New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino criticized gays Sunday, saying he didn't want children "to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option," compared to heterosexuality.

A prepared version of his remarks obtained by CNN from New York affiliate NY1 said that "There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual," though Paladino did not wind up delivering that line.

"That's not how (God) created us," the prepared remarks continued, though Paladino did not say those words.

"Don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way," Paladino said Sunday. "That would be a dastardly lie -- my approach is live and let live."

"I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family," he said.

Paladino also slammed his Democratic opponent, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for marching in New York's gay pride parade in June.

"That's not the example that we should be showing the children and certainly not in our schools," he said.



And read something like this: From The Norman Script North grad took own life after week of 'toxic'

"A week after attending a Norman City Council meeting where a heated debate played out in public, 19-year-old Zach Harrington took his own life at his family’s home in Norman. At the Sept. 28 meeting Harrington attended at City Hall, the council acknowledged receipt of a proclamation recognizing October as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History Month in the city. Council voted 7 to 1 in favor of it, with only Councilman Dan Quinn casting a nay vote.

One man said he moved to Norman because he thought it was the kind of place that would never accept the GLBT community with open arms. A woman, who described herself as “bi-racial,” said she was tired of the GLBT plight being compared to Civil Rights. Some of those who opposed the proclamation claimed that members of the GLBT community would use it to infiltrate the public school system, essentially allowing the “gay lifestyle” to become a part of the curriculum. Others claimed that council recognizing October as GLBT History Month was a waste of their time."

Numerous residents also claimed the Bible was their guiding light, citing the ancient text as their primary reason for opposing the proclamation and the GLBT community in general."

My heart hurts. I'm disgusted. Why are so many people intolerant? Why can't people just accept others for who they are, regardless of who they love and how they love someone? And why is religion always used to support their cause?

I was taught from 18 years of a catholic school education that MY GOD accepts and loves everyone and would never, ever turn anyone away. MY GOD is not against homosexuality. It's those intolerant, small-minded people who feel they have the right to interpret and speak God's word, who promote homosexuality as evil.

In support of National Coming Out Day, Dear Author is having a a National Coming Out WEEK celebration. They're giving away 125 books and will have six reviews of GLBT romance novels. My contemporary lesbian romance, Lovestruck is one of the books you can win over there.

And in honor of National Coming Out Day, I'll be giving away Lovestruck and The Princess's Bride (my lesbian pirate romance) here for one lucky person to win. In order for your chance to win, leave a comment here by Saturday 10/16 telling me one of your favorite GLBT books you have read, and if you haven't read a GLBT book, which one would you like to read?

I'm also happy to announce that I have sold my first M/M romance called The Prince's Groom to Ravenous Romance. This is the sequel of sorts to The Princess's Bride, and should be out this year, including another M/M romance I've sold that will be released in early 2011.

This year I've published two Lesbian, one M/M and two Straight romances, and hope to continue to do so in the next coming years.

Tolerance... acceptance... and love. Hate and Bigotry is never the answer.