Wyoming: The Wild, the Weird and the Wonderful

posted in: Blog, channeling, relationships | 10

We are all God’s children. We are all equal….I don’t know why anyone gay or lesbian should be less a human being than I am….gay and lesbian people can be just as happy in their marriage as I am in mine. ~ former United States Senator Alan Simpson, Wyoming

wyoming-state-flag

Wyoming, where I live, is a most interesting place. In land area it’s the 10th largest of the 50 United States. It has fewer people than any other state. (There are more wild critters than humans.) Wyoming is home to stunning landscapes of majestic snow-capped mountains, broad sweeping prairies, and lots of clean air and wide-open spaces. The state is also home to two world-renowned national parks—Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Wyoming still has an Old West frontier mentality—independent and strong. Supposedly the most politically conservative of the 50 states, people here do not like big government interference in their lives.

On the other hand, Wyoming is known as “The Equality State.” It was the first state to grant women the right to vote (in 1869, before it was even a state). It was also the first jurisdiction to allow women to serve on juries and hold public office. In 1924, Wyoming elected its first woman governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross.

Sounds like a pretty wonderful place to live, doesn’t it? It is a nice place. I love it here.

So why am I telling you all this?

Well, the other day there was a seemingly small incident that exploded into a major crisis for one of Wyoming’s most senior and experienced politicians, US Senator Mike Enzi.

Senator Enzi was speaking to a group of Wyoming high school students. One student asked him what he and other US senators were doing to improve the lives of LGBT folks (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). The senator tried to make a joke out of a serious question, one that concerns millions of people the world over. Here’s his weird response:

“I know a guy that wears a tutu and goes to bars on Friday night and is always surprised that he gets in fights.” Then he added, “Well, he kind of asks for it a little bit. That’s the way he winds up with that kind of problem.”

As you might imagine, Senator Enzi’s insensitive, cruel comments infuriated people all over Wyoming and the entire country.

This coming from a politician representing Wyoming in the United States Senate—Wyoming, the state where Matthew Shepard, a young gay man was brutally tortured and murdered nearly 20 years ago. The US Congress passed what is now a famous landmark hate crime law named after Matt.

After Matt’s death, his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, became a prominent activists for LGBT rights. They founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The foundation’s creed goes like this:

The Matthew Shepard Foundation empowers individuals to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach, advocacy and resource programs. We strive to replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance.

So how could a prominent, normally well regarded US senator like Mike Enzi, say such a thing in, of all places, Wyoming, The Equality State? The state whose official motto is “Equality”—the credo that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated with love, dignity and respect?

Well, no one is perfect. No place is perfect. But Senator Enzi does not represent the general attitude of the people he serves. A graphic example of that is the broad-based rebuke the people of Wyoming gave the senator. After his callous remarks, people across Wyoming donned tutus and showed up at local bars.

Here are some relevant comments from Spirit, in no particular order.

Spirit

  • God is all that is—literally everything and every being that exists. What you mislabel “good” or “evil” is your self-created illusion of what you think God’s creation is.
  • All sexual orientations—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or none are sacred and good.
  • You are all a combination of masculine and feminine aspects. In that sense, you are all “gay.” Generally, but not always, only one aspect is dominant.
  • All relationships, sexual or not, are chosen by you and are always for your highest and best good.
  • We see you as God sees you—as bright, beautiful beings of light, wisdom and power. You’ve just forgotten that’s who you are, who you’ve always been.
  • Your true nature, who you really are, is pure love. Love transcends sexuality and all other “differences” you perceive among yourselves.
  • Love is all there is. Nothing matters more than love. Nothing.

Related posts:
Sexuality and Diversity
Do You Think Homosexuality Is Unnatural—or Wrong?
What Everybody Ought To Know about Sexuality

**************************************

Another prominent Wyoming politician is former US Senator Alan Simpson. For years, Senator Simpson has been an outspoken advocate for equality for all, including LGBT folks. Here’s a delightful short video he made a few years ago.

**************************************

Copyright © 2017 by John Cali

Please share your thoughts with us below.

Please share this message freely with family and friends. If you have received it from a friend, you may sign up to receive the messages weekly by going here.

**************************************

What other subjects would you like us to talk about in these posts? Please email me.

Email address: John@GreatWesternPublishing.org
Telephone: 307-213-9844
Mailing address: PO Box 442, Cody WY 82414 USA
Get The Book of Joy (free)

10 Responses

  1. Pat

    Thank you, John, for addressing this controversial subject. We’re border buddies and I’m happy to share the same sentiments on equality. That’s the beauty of humans — our diversity. Hugs from Colorado.

    • John Cali

      You’re most welcome, Pat! For whatever reason, I enjoy writing about controversial subjects. 🙂 I agree — the beauty of humans is the diversity, and the oneness despite (or maybe because of) the diversity. Big hugs, John

  2. George

    I hope Senator Enzi learned his lesson. Please forgive me if I don’t wear a tutu into a bar. Yes for equality and love. I love my Wyoming friend, John.

    • John Cali

      I hope he did too, George. He’s a nice guy, but he certainly underestimated the people he represents. I’m not wearing any tutu either. 🙂 I’ll find other ways to promote equality and love. Love you too, dear brother.

  3. Karen Lee Samson

    Hi John,
    Wyoming, the state of equality, what a beautiful article on life, humans,and how one grows to recognize shedding fear of anyone different from yourself brings out more love,respect for individuality and differences among people. Let be noted, all people desire to be loved, accepted,respected,and treated with dignity. The old saying, treat others as you yourself desire to be treated comes to mind. All people are of equal value, God makes no mistakes in life. Spirit speaks we are all the same in more ways than we are different. Sexual orientation is no different than one being drawn to the frequency of red,blue,or green….all frequencies are of equal value,to be loved , and all are part of Gods Masterpiece. Support love, kindness, support all choices in sexuality, be it straight,gay,lesbian,transgender,or non- sexual. Beautiful reminder of spirit speaking on loving support of Gods Devine creation and Master plan.

    • John Cali

      Hi Karen,

      Thanks very much for your kind words. I agree with you — we should treat others as we wish to be treated — the old Golden Rule. I truly believe, despite appearances, the human race is moving quickly back into that place of love, peace and harmony where we started out eons ago.

  4. Ron B.

    Thank you for posting your thoughts about Wyoming. However I see it about a lot more than just that state and this time period. Humans actually are growing up, slowly, and growing up means growing toward love and away from fear which is at the root of hatred.
    Looking back a couple thousand years homosexuality was deemed by the high priests of some countries as a crime punishable by death. Not only that but if an public figure refused to speak out against them or any other who dared to go against the sexual mores as dictated by the priests, he or she too could be killed, not that there were very many influencial she´s around. That is what the story about the crucifiction was about. Ask Spirit about that.
    Many centuries later my ancestors from France faced a similar time. To make a longish story short one only had to be from a certain part of the country, Poiteau, to be hated(feared) to be executed. An influential person would then of course face more danger but the others from the region would then be attacked and become refugees. Yes, ever hear of refugees caused to become such due to religion? America was a great place to escape to in order to find peace and love. Well as we can see change is a constant and is necessary for evolution to develop. Sometimes those changes cause that evolution to regress. Sometimes it is necessary to erase data from a hard drive and start again back at a better time. Better hope for the sake of our children that the one in charge of this computer program/reality does not deem such a change necessary. Still from the larger picture perspective all is well. Better to start again from a point where humanity would stand a better chance of growing up than allowing them to continue downhill with greater momentum.
    Love is the answer.

    • John Cali

      You’re welcome, Ron. And thank you for your comments.

      I’m aware of some of the points you made, but it would not have been practical to include them all in a single post. As I’d mentioned in the post, this is a worldwide issue:

      “The senator tried to make a joke out of a serious question, one that concerns millions of people the world over.”

      I completely agree with you — love is the answer.

      John

      • Karen Lee Samson

        Yes, that senator was out of line.
        Love is always the answer, ridiculing another is teaching disrespect, hate, and division.

        • Ron B.

          Karen, yes love is the answer but it too requires to be taught. Ridiculing others is also learned by example and that story can be found in the past. Fear of being ridiculed is a big one especially among our children and it is up to any who become aware (conscious of it) to do something about it. Adding energy to it is not the way, for example ridiciling the ridiculers.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.