Is the Ecuadorian Government Bullying it's Own People?!

I recently received an email (that is listed below) fro Change.Org about Lesbian Torture Clinics in Ecuador.  The details of this disgusting and gut wrenching injustice is outlined below including a link for you to be a part of the solution.  In short, the LGBT community in Ecuador are being tortured in government run clinics just because of their sexuality.  I will let the letter below educate you on the matter but before you jump down to it I wanted to share a thought.  As you know from previous posts we are gearing up for our upcoming show on bullying.  I cannot help but equate the government of Ecuador as just one big powerful bully to the LGBT community.  They are isolating their victim (just as any school bully does), they use physical and mental abuse tactics to make their prey submissive (just as any school bully does) so aren't they in fact just one giant asshole of a bully?!  And if so, what role do we have in helping these victims (and yes if you are reading this you are in a sense a witness).  We mentioned in previous blogs that being a witness that idly stands by not intervening is a part of the problem.  I know I do not want to be a part of this devastating problem and I hope you do not either so please join us in signing this petition to help stop the bullying of LGBT people by their own government.



Paola Ziritti is unthinkably brave to speak publicly about the “clinic.” She endured physical assault, sexual abuse, and a constant battery of insults. Guards would even throw buckets of cold water and urine on her. For two years, this was Paola’s waking nightmare... because she’s a lesbian. The “doctors” and guards at the clinic were trying to “cure” her.
Paola lives in Ecuador, where these so-called clinics are terrifyingly common -- although the government shut down 27 this year, 180 clinics remain open, and most of the prisoners there are women. (Some gay men and transgendered people are in the clinics as well, but far fewer.)
Paola’s parents knew they were sending her to a forced confinement clinic, but they had no idea how awful it would be. Once Paola’s mother realized what she’d done, she tried to get her daughter back, but the clinic said no. The process to free Paola took a year.
A few incredibly courageous Ecuadorian women are fighting back -- they call themselves Fundacion Causana. The women of Fundacion Causana started a petition on Change.org demanding that Ecuadoran Minister of Public Health Dr. David Chiriboga Allnut investigate and shut down all 180 remaining clinics that torture women to “cure” them. Please sign the petition right now.
Fundacion Causana does direct-service work on the ground to save women from the clinics, but they say it’s not enough. They need the unbridled support of the Ecuadoran government to get all of the clinics shut down.
So far, the government has only shut down a small cluster of clinics in one region of the country. Ecuador’s government officials need to know that we are watching and will not stand idly by while women are imprisoned and tortured.
Please sign Fundacion Causana’s petition demanding that the Ecuadoran Minister of Public Health investigate and shut down every “clinic” that tortures members of Ecuador’s LGBT community:
http://www.change.org/petitions/fiscal-general-del-estado-close-fake-clinics-that-torture-lgbt-in-order-to-cure-them
Thanks for being a change-maker,
- Weldon and the Change.org team

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I know it's been a while since we have blogged, but we have been preparing for our upcoming show on Bullying, one that we are excited to do.  I know it sounds a little strange to put the words "exciting" and "bullying" in the same sentence.  However, we are excited to produce a show on a horrific epidemic that may in fact help shed light on a solution, which in turn is exciting.

Since it is Saturday night I want to briefly blog about something else that I am super excited about...DAY LIGHT SAVINGS!  Yes, this is in fact my favorite holiday by far.  Sure, it's not a holiday that requires a huge prepared feast (although I say any night is a night where ton's of delicious food should be enjoyed), and we do not go to bed awaiting a big jolly old man descending into our homes spoiling us with gifts, but it is still my all time favorite holiday.  It's a day where we get an extra hour (of sleep)!  What is better to celebrate than time?!

How often do we wonder, 'if I only had one more minute, hour, or day, I would have (___blank___)!'  If you had a little extra time would you say the one thing you regret not saying?  Would you spend the time enjoying something you love, but left too soon?  Or, would you perhaps spend that extra time to like SorryWeArePerfect on Facebook?!?!

The best part about Day Light Savings Time is that you do have that extra hour, so go out and make the best of it!  And don't forget time is not guaranteed so make the most of it today...for Day Light Saving Time's evil Spring twin is only a few seasons away and prepared to steal back that extra hour.