Ted Faigle

Philadelphia, PA

CREDENTIALS - Graduate of the Wharton School of Business; Concurrent degree in Paralegal Studies; ABA approved. Graduate degree pending from Fels Institute of Government at U.Penn.
Current Gig: Research Grants Administration/Accounting Manager at the University of Pennsylvania. Recently interned for the US EPA Office of Regional Council (Mid Atlantic); Still provide paralegal services gratis to preferred nonprofit organizations. Background also in Art & Architecture (programs at Temple University, Tyler School of Art and The University of Kentucky School of Architecture and a short-lived career as a gallery and performance artist/media whore in Philly). Former radio producer and commentator, writer and all round pain in the ass activist, advocate, critic and community organizer in the progressive LGBT community for over 30 years. Not about to let up any time soon.

http://nattererer.blogspot.com/

Ted signed the petition | about 1 month ago

Indian Government: Don't Censor Facebook!
Ted signed the petition | 4 months ago

Philadelphia: Stop Laying Off Great Teachers
Ted signed the petition | 4 months ago

Tell the President and Congress: Dump DOMA!
Ted signed the petition | 4 months ago

Demand the Obama Administration Live Up to Promise and Stop Tearing Apart LGBT Families
Ted signed the petition | 4 months ago

Tell Bank of America: No $5 Debit Card Fees
Ted signed the petition | 8 months ago

U.S. Senate: Oppose the New Worldwide War Authority
Ted signed the petition | 11 months ago

Demand that Apple remove "ex-gay" iPhone app
Ted commented on the article | about 1 year ago

Reframing The 'Gay Choice' Debate

Late to the discussion, I know. But sorry - I've been very busy.

In answer to the question, "who would choose to be homosexual?" -- I raise my hand every time and wave it around like the nerdiest schoolboy in class, totally sure he has the correct answer: "ME!"

I would always choose being gay over being straight. Based on my personal experience for as long as I've been having any kind of sex, queer sex with a consenting male partner is a million times better than straight sex: more fun, more exciting and way more fulfilling than any heterosexual experience I've ever had or could ever imagine.

If you accept that the primal nature of sex is in the give & take of pleasure, transcendence and/or fulfillment how can you deny yourself the means to experience those most positive, qualities of human existence?

But if you believe that sex is only a means to perpetuate the race then how do you account for the horniness that frequently overwhelms you to the point that you so often crave a sexual outlet or suppress your wanton sexual urges come upon you when baby-making is not a desired outcome?

I accept that others are not turned on or fulfilled by the same things that do it for me but what do I care? As long as the person I want to be with is into it as much as I am, consensually and without any exploitative power differentials, it is our mutual, exclusive and, if you will, God-given right to try to make our homosexual experience as hot as we can stand it.

Who would choose not to?

As far as sex goes, does anyone really have a choice between what naturally gets us off or fulfills us?

The question of choice comes in only where those of us who find fulfillment in same-sex relationships are forced to decide whether we have what it takes to drop the pretense mandated by socio-religious convention in order to live our authentic lives openly, in defiance of the dominant social norms and mores that only serve to perpetuate arbitrary gender roles bequeathed to us by the no-longer-relevant perceptions of entitlement of our long-dead forebears.

Obviously, not all of us are up to the task. But with each successive generation more of us are stepping up to the plate, thanks to the determined and often courageous efforts or those of who do have the gumption to stand up to the hapless forces of regressive, oppressive and ultimately meaningless tradition.

Of course, this kind of analysis holds no water with those who are hell bent on milking the distorted queer issue for all it's worth in order to rile up the Repugnican & "Tea" Party base, when they need the votes, by playing on their ignorant fears and distaste for queer butt sex & other sexual urges, which they spend so much guilt-ridden energy to suppress.
Ted commented on the article | about 1 year ago

Pope Gives Thumbs Up to Condoms. Can That Be Right?

Interesting, isn't it, that the Pope focuses on MALE prostitutes? I guess one has to make use of the references with which one is familiar...
Ted signed the petition | about 1 year ago

Help the Final Push to Repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Before Anti-Equality Lawmakers Take Control