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Comment RSS [Video] Gay Teen's Emotional testimony in Vermont over same-sex marriage.
Meet James Neiley, 17 years old. This is one very smart, articulate and courageous kid. We must keep in mind that he is luckier than most because he has accepting parents and family members. Obviously his parents did a great job raising him. He is profoundly eloquent when he explains how he would raise a child without the blight of bigotry. This youngster is the antidote to cynicism.
Additional credit is due Outright Vermont for making a difference in the lives of gay youth.
H/T Bilerico
Related Content: Vt. Gov. Douglas to Veto Gay Marriage Bill
Related Content: Vt. Gov. Douglas to Veto Gay Marriage Bill
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Hi James,
i´ve found a shorte note about your testimony in a free gay magazin here in germany.
After i´ve seen your testimony on youtube, I remember myselfe for figthing for sames sex marriage
im my church (not kath.) I think your speach enters every heart which is on the right side.
I thank you for your courage and beeing a simbole fore your age.
Every smal step gives us more rights to be proud of ourselfe to feel in love with a man.
I am looking for the hole text of your testimony to translate it in german, also the questions you have to
answer to. These questions where very low in nois. May it is possible to send me a note, wherer to find your
wounderfull text.
Be proude of you and your life and don´t let anyone hurt you with his words.
It is your way of living and it is OK
Yours Gerhard
James just got kicked in the face.
Governor Douglas says that he will veto the marriage equality bill.
Wonderful wonderful job!
Bravo James! You're very articulate. I hope that someday you live in a world that fully accepts you as you are, with full rights as any other citizen.
James, you are an inspiration to young gay and lesbian kids around the country and the world. Growing up gay in suburban LA in the 1970s was difficult and if someone like you (or if I had had the guts) existed then, it would have made life a lot easier. I imagine there are a lot of people saying to themselves right now..."If wish I was like that..confident, intelligent". A role model at 17!!
I wish you a happy life full of accomplishments, lots of friends, lots of experience. Your great attitude ensures you'll have it. Well done. Michael
Ex ore infantium... If I needed persuading, he has done it, about gay adoption as well as gay marriage.
does anyone else think this video looks...photoshopped?
Yes, prior to editing, the young man you see here was really a young Chinese girl who wasn't cute enough to sing the national anthem at the Olympics.
Maybe your monitor needs cleaning.
No, its just you. And FYI, if you'd substituted Photoshop - which is software used to edit single-frame still pictures - with an actual video editing package, say Final Cut, you'd still display yourself as an ignorant tin foil hat wearer.
No, it doesnt look photoshopped. Perhaps his appearnce on Oprah will also look photoshopped to the morons of the world.
No.
Is this some sort of bizarre conpiracy theory? Exctly how would you PS a video anyway? Who would and why would they do it?
Bravo, you said this so much better than I could have, and I'm thankful for your power.
Thank-you for posting this, and for your testimony. I was watching the support & love on the face of the woman behind you. I can only assume she's your mother, and she looks so proud of you.
Good Luck!
Just a reminder. I would encourage all readers to snail mail Governor Douglas:
Governor Jim Douglas
109 State Street, Pavilion
Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
You can follow-up with a telephone call to 802 828-3333. I want to emphasize that regular mail is far more persuasive than using the contact form on the Governor's website.
The Governor has not indicated if he will veto this bill but he has sent out some signals suggesting that he intends to do so.
James,
Your testimony was inspiring! Good luck in everything.
Oh, and BTW--you're cute! Are you seeing anyone (j/k!)
Hey, thanks so much! (This is James by the way) I really appreciate the support! I hope to continue being an activist in the future, and I appreciate everything the gay community has accomplished before me and I hope to make a difference in both legal and social equality for LGBTQ people around the country. Holly Rae Taylor told me about your blog, thanks so much for mentioning me! :D
I only hope that, one day, you will learn that God has a better plan for you. I'll pray for you James and hope that you will turn away from sin. May you be in the light of the Lord and enjoy all of his blessings.
Dear James, God has no better plan for you than the one you architect yourself. I'll pray for you that you never take personally other people's projections of their own self-hatred, unoriginality and fear of being anally penetrated as your star rockets across our American cultural horizon for many years to come. YOU WERE BORN IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD AND NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT FACT. Never forget that.
Thank you for your integrity, your intelligence and courage.
The only way to defeat sin is to turn and face it directly as James is doing in a way unknown by followers of fantasy religion. James, you are a prophet, a preacher and you will have many followers. You know no sin. Thank you for doing what most of us have neither the courage nor the strength to do: exposing your soul and ideals and beliefs to those who will respond with hate and falsehoods bourne of fear, dogma and ignorance. Bravo James. We are with you.
Eachaus Hoagne
James, by working together we can wrestle our rights away from people like this commenter. God loves you for who you are, James. That's a fact that some people will never understand.
You're so brave! Keep up the good work!
-Matt Algren
I think James knows exactly who he is, and doesn't need these kind of back-handed, condescending insults. Anonymous, Tues 03/24/2009 16:09 - I hope you learn to turn away from your closemindedness and sinful judgment of others, and see that we are all equal, and we all deserve the same rights. I and others are proud of James for speaking so wonderfully against those who would try to attack him and block him from the rights that are owed to us all.
Beautiful job, James. I'm so impressed with you. Congratulations.
My take on these things is simple:
Mr./Ms. Anonymous has a right to practice his religion. However, that does not give him the right to impose his religion.
I have yet to entertain a single coherent argument that supports the notion that one couple's gay marriage affects, in any way, any other couple's "traditional" marriage. The standard argumentum ignoratum is "Oh, the CHILLdren." Aside from the fact that being gay isn't contagious, how about all the gay children – like James – who have to battle bigotry on a daily basis?
James you are a winner in the true sense of the word.I'll bet that colleges will be fighting over you.
Bravo young man!
As a father of a toddler I can only hope that my child will be as courageous and articulate as you have shown yourself.
Your parents must be very proud of you, and you have every reason to be proud of yourself.
You really should blog here or at Pam's from time to time. I am sure that many of us would like to read what you have to say.
A young man like this is Tony Perkins' worst nightmare. He is handsome, bright and well spoken. He's the average kid next door who happens to be gay.
Well put. James is hard to demonize.
Brave kid. Too bad we cannot hear the questions clearly.
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